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THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 THE COLLECTION OF 
 NORTH CAROLINIANA 
 
 ENDOWED BY 
 
 JOHN SPRUNT HILL 
 CLASS OF 1889 
 
 CB 
 J77s3 
 
 
 
 
 ( 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 000321 93377 
 
 I 
 
 FOR USE ONLY IN 
 THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 PAUL JONES. 
 
LONDON: 
 
 PRINTFD BY C. ROWORTH, BBU VARU, 
 TEMPI! BAR. 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 PAUL JONES, 
 
 FKOM. 
 
 ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS 
 
 IN THE POSSESSION OP 
 
 JOHN HENRY SHERBURNE, Esq. 
 
 REGISTER OF THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 LONDON: 
 JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET 
 
 MDCCXXXV. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Paul Jones is known as a rebel and a pirate. 
 Five and twenty years have not elapsed since the 
 nurses of Scotland hushed their crying infants by 
 the whisper of his name, and chap-books are 
 even now to be purchased in which he is depicted 
 in all the plenitude of terrific glory, the rival of 
 Blackbeard, and the worthy successor of the 
 Buccaneers. . - 
 
 It is singular that such a character should have 
 been honoured by the especial favour of the most 
 illustrious courts of Christendom. The agents 
 of authority certainly do not always bear an un- 
 blemished reputation, but it is not by imperial 
 crosses and royal orders that the labours of such 
 assistants are rewarded. There is for them the 
 secret service money and the suspected subsidy ; 
 for the most absolute despotism depends upon 
 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 a feeling of honour, and the most abject of nobles 
 would deem his feelings outraged, if he wore the 
 same ribbon as a pirate. But Paul Jones was 
 the intimate and respected friend of many of the 
 most distinguished and most estimable characters 
 of his age, and, above all, the illustrious Franklin 
 signalled him out as the object of his sincere and 
 valuable friendship. We shall, in the following 
 pages, learn in what circumstances the popular 
 conception of Paul Jones's character has origi- 
 nated. 
 
 Every account of the life of an extraordinary 
 individual, no matter of what country or what 
 profession, is extremely valuable. It increases 
 our experience of human nature. But it is not 
 merely upon this ground that the life of Paul 
 Jones is worthy the attention of the reader. The 
 age in which he lived was the parallel of the 
 present one. The revolt of the Anglo-American 
 colonies had produced, in the mind of Europe, 
 a similar effect to that which is the consequence 
 of the revolt of Mexico and the States of South 
 America. The simr passions were excited in 
 
PREFACE. Vll 
 
 the eighteenth century ; governments were placed 
 in similar situations ; and new interests then arose, 
 as are now arising. In becoming acquainted with 
 the secret thoughts and conduct of the most emi- 
 nent of the revolutionary leaders, much light will 
 be thrown upon transactions which are now the 
 objects of our observation; and by entering into 
 the cabinets of Europe at the latter end of the 
 last century, we may discover the situation of 
 some of the cabinets of the present one. We may 
 become acquainted with prime ministers, stripped 
 of their diplomatic decencies, and while we com- 
 miserate the difficulty of their situation, we may 
 learn by what principles their political conduct is 
 dictated. 
 
 Such are the points upon which this volume 
 will instruct us ; and perhaps we should now say 
 something of the documents on which it has been 
 founded. 
 
 The original papers of Paul Jones were formerly 
 in the possession of the late Robert Hyslop, Esq. 
 of New York. On the death of that gentleman, 
 they were obtained by Mr. George A. Ward, of 
 
Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 the same city, who parted with them to John 
 Henry Sherburne Esq., the Register of the Navy 
 of the United States. That no suspicion might 
 arise as to their genuineness, those of the letters 
 which had been addressed to the Marquis de la 
 Fayette were submitted by Mr. Sherburne to the 
 inspection of that nobleman on his recent visit to 
 the United States ; and La Fayette has attested 
 the authenticity of each of them, by an autogra- 
 phical memorandum. A considerable number 
 of papers, relative to Paul Jones, were also ob- 
 tained by Mr. Sherburne from the department of 
 state, through the kindness of Mr. Adams when 
 Secretary. Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Maddison, both 
 formerly presidents of the United States, were 
 also applied to. The latter gentleman "regret- 
 ted that it was not in his power to add to the 
 materials which Mr. Sherburne had derived from 
 other sources, although he was acquainted with 
 Paul Jones and could attest the exact likeness 
 of his bust by Houdon." Mr. Jefferson writes, 
 " my memory is so decayed, that I believe I 
 cannot better comply with your request, than by 
 
PREFACE. ix 
 
 sending you all the papers relating to him in my 
 possession. His letters to me, which are many, 
 will probably throw some light, which you may 
 not possess, upon his occupation during my resi- 
 dence at Paris." It is imagined, that no doubt 
 can possibly exist as to the authenticity of the 
 materials upon which this volume is founded. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Jones's birth — His voyage to America — His retirement — 
 Rise of the American Navy — He enters it — State of the Ame- 
 rican Navy — Their first operations — Jones promoted to the 
 Providence — His plans for the improvement of the American 
 Navy — His first cruise — His expeditions against Newfoundland 
 — His African plan — His expedition against Isle Royal — 
 Capture of the Mellish — His promotion — And letter to the 
 Secret Committee Page 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The subject of the letter to the Secret Committee — Jones 
 arrives in France — The descent upon Whitehaven — The ad- 
 venture of St. Mary's Isle — The engagement with the Drake — 
 The Countess of Selkirk. 25 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The American commissioners — Jones's distress — His exer- 
 tions — Secret undertakings — Incessant disappointments — His 
 appeal to the minister — His letter to the king. . . . 51 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The effect of Jones's letter— Appointed to the Duras— A 
 new expedition formed — The grand invasion — Jones appointed 
 to the command of a squadron — Captain Landais — The cruise 
 — Jones attempts Leith — The Baltic fleet — The engagement 
 with the Serapis ^ 
 
Ml 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Jones arrives in the Texel — The anger of the English court 
 
 — Their remonstrances — Their squadrons — Jones's secret cor- 
 
 ondence with the Dutch government — His prisoners — 
 
 His plans — Offer of a French commission — His answer — His 
 
 critical situation — And escape 98 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Fones's illness — His arrival in Pans — His honours — Delia 
 
 — La belle Comtesse — An amourette — Captain Landai: — 
 
 s's departure for America 145 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Jones arrives in America — Order of Congress — Resolu- 
 tions of Congress — Appointed to the America — Hints for a 
 naval system — Appointed agent for European prize-money — 
 Returns to France.' 179 
 
 CHAPTER VIH. 
 
 The French prize money — La Perouse — Madame de T. — 
 The Algerines — Jones returns to America — Resolutions of 
 Congress — The gold medal — Letter of the American ( on 
 gress to the French King — Danish claim — Consequences of 
 non-recognition — Memorial of Dr. Franklin — Jones arrives 
 at Copenhagen. 192 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Jones arrives at St. Petersburg — Is appointed to the 
 command of a division of the Liman Fleet — Engagement with 
 the Turks — Invested with the order of St. Anne — Victory 
 over the Turks— Returns to St. Petersburg — His plans- 
 Political intrigues Returns to France, and dies. 257 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 PAUL JONES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Jones's birth — His voyage to America — His retirement — Rise 
 of the American Navy — He enters it — State of the American 
 Navy — Their first operations — Jones promoted to the Pro- 
 vidence — His plans for the improvement of the American 
 Navy — His first cruise — His expeditions against Newfound- 
 land — His African plan — His expedition against Isle Royal 
 — Capture of the Mellish — His promotion — And letter to 
 the Secret Committee. 
 
 JOHN PAUL JONES was born in the month 
 of July, 1747, at Arbegland, in the stewartry of 
 Kirkcudbright, in Scotland. His father, John 
 Paul, was a gardener, and young Paul received 
 the rudiments of his education at the parochial 
 school of Kirkbean. 
 
 The contiguity of his residence to the shore of 
 
THE LIFE 01 
 
 the Solway Firth inspired him with an early pre- 
 dilection for a seafaring life; and his friends, yield- 
 ing to the ardour of his youthful supplications, 
 sent him at the age of twelve across the Firth 
 to Whitehaven, and bound him apprentice to a 
 merchant in the American trade, of the name of 
 Younger. 
 
 Before he had completed his thirteenth year 
 he landed on the shores of that country which he 
 was destined to adopt as his own. 
 
 Young Paul was at length freed from the tram- 
 mels of apprenticeship. Of his life at this period 
 scarcely any memorials exist, except that he made 
 several voyages to various parts of Europe and 
 America. From certain details, which are con- 
 tained in a letter written at a more advanced 
 period of his life, it is evident that he had been 
 engaged in commerce to no inconsiderable extent, 
 and had suffered from the ill conduct of his part- 
 ner. In 1773 he was in Virginia, arranging the 
 affairs of his brother, who had died intestate 
 in that county. It is probable that Paul, at this 
 period, was suffering from pecuniary difficulties. 
 
PAUL JONES. 3 
 
 It is certain that he was living in America in a 
 very retired manner, and about this time he 
 adopted the name of Jones. 
 
 In a letter to the Honourable Robert Morris, 
 written three years after this period, he says, " I 
 conclude that Mr. Hewes has acquainted you with 
 a very great misfortune which befel me some years 
 ago, and which brought me into North America. 
 I am under no concern whatever that this, or any 
 past circumstance of my life, will sink me in your 
 opinion. Since human wisdom cannot secure us 
 from accidents, it is the greatest effort of wisdom 
 to bear them well." 
 
 If, as is most probable, he alludes, by the phrase 
 " very great misfortune," to some incident of his 
 commercial life, it must be observed, that we shall 
 have hereafter to admire his pure and honourable 
 conduct on this subject. 
 
 Before the British American colonies had 
 avowed their independence, the maritime aggres- 
 sions of Great Britain had determined the Ame- 
 rican Congress to proceed to reprisal. It was 
 resolved therefore that a naval force should im- 
 
 b2 
 
j THE LIFE OF 
 
 mediately be fitted out, and an eager search was 
 made for individuals capable of acting on board 
 the infant fleet. 
 
 Jones had at this period just completed his 
 twenty-eighth year, and had already begun to dis- 
 cover that he was not precisely suited for the soli- 
 tude which the first disappointment of life had made 
 him deem so valuable. The cause of American 
 liberty had found in him an early advocate, and 
 he watched with deep interest the political agita- 
 tion, which seemed now about to subside into 
 submission, and now to burst into independence. 
 The want which w T as then generally felt of able 
 naval officers gave him an opportunity of offering 
 his services to the Congress, and on the 22d 
 December, 1775, he was appointed by that body 
 a first lieutenant of the American navy. 
 
 The first proceedings of the American squadron 
 were not very successful. In consequence of in- 
 telligence which they received, that there was a 
 large quantity of military stores at New Provi- 
 dence, one of the Bahama isles, two sloops, with 
 a body of three hundred men, were dispatched to 
 
PAUL JONES. 5 
 
 that island. The Americans failed in surprizing 
 the island by night, and though they landed the 
 next morning without opposition, they found, to 
 their mortification, that the governor had sent off 
 the military stores the night before. 
 
 A few days after this affair of New Providence 
 the American squadron fell in with the Glasgow 
 man-of-war, and the broadsides of the English 
 seem somewhat to have astonished the heroes 
 of the Bahama isles. It was long before they 
 were again able to put to sea. Sickness pre- 
 vailed very generally, and scarcely a ship was 
 manned. Jones, who panted for a new expedi- 
 tion, deeply lamented the unfortunate state of 
 the American navy ; " the seamen," he says in a 
 letter to the Hon. Mr. Hewes, " almost to a man, 
 entered into the army before the fleet was set on 
 foot ; and I am well informed, that there are four 
 or five thousand seamen now in the land service." 
 
 The difficulty of procuring seamen was not the 
 only one to be encountered. The unfortunate 
 engagement with the Glasgow produced consider- 
 able dissatisfaction; and unfavourable reflections 
 
() THE LIFE OF 
 
 were cast upon the different officers. The subor- 
 dinate situation of Lieutenant Jones preserved 
 him from any particular animadversion, yet he felt 
 very keenly the severity of the public murmur ; 
 "my station," he observes to Mr. Hewes, "confined 
 me to the Alfred's lower gun-deck, where I com- 
 manded during the action ; yet although the com- 
 mander's letter, which has been published, says, 
 1 all the officers in the Alfred behaved well,' still 
 the public blames me — no officer, under a superior, 
 who does not stand charged by that superior for 
 cowardice or misconduct, can be blamed on any oc- 
 casion whatever. I wish a general inquiry might 
 be made respecting the abilities of officers in 
 all stations, and then the country w T ould not be 
 cheated." 
 
 The truth is, there really does not appear any 
 cause for the dissatisfaction which existed ; but, 
 with a struggling people, ill success is always 
 unpopular, and that which is unpopular seldom 
 meets with justice. 
 
 Two courts-martial were, however, held on 
 board the Alfred, and their consequences were, as 
 
PAUL JONES. 7 
 
 they affected Jones, his promotion to the command 
 of the Providence. 
 
 It is more difficult to establish a navy than an 
 army. When an insurrection takes place, an 
 armed crowd immediately assembles, and they are 
 soon drilled into some sort of discipline. The 
 common danger makes the soldier docile in his 
 conduct, and the commander impartial in the 
 selection of his officers. But a navy is always an 
 afterthought ; it is established by the authority of 
 an existing government — not by the instant fears 
 of an agitated people — and favouritism and corrup- 
 tion are seldom absent. 
 
 The American navy in its origin was feebly and 
 badly organized ; the officers were not only inef- 
 ficient in their professional conduct, but unskilful 
 in the general management. Their brutal beha- 
 viour disgusted the common men, and they were 
 perpetually quarrelling among themselves on the 
 most frivolous points of etiquette. 
 
 Paul Jones deeply lamented this unhappy state 
 of affairs : — " It is certainly for the interest of the 
 service," he writes, " that a cordial interchange of 
 
8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 civilities should subsist between inferior and supe- 
 rior officers. Men of liberal minds, who have been 
 long accustomed to command, can ill brook being 
 thus set at nought. The rude, ungentle treatment 
 which they experience creates such heart-burn- 
 ings as are in no wise consonant with that cheer- 
 ful, ardent spirit, which ought ever to be the cha- 
 racteristic of an officer." Writing to the Hon. 
 Mr. Hewes, he tells him, " in my opinion, a com- 
 mander in the navy ought to be a man of a strong 
 and well connected sense, with a tolerable edu- 
 cation, a gentleman as well as a seaman, both in 
 theory and practice." 
 
 On the 13th of December, 1775, Congress 
 directed the building of thirteen frigates ; but 
 Jones was disappointed in being still retained in 
 the command of the Providence. He was em- 
 ployed for some time in escorting vessels from 
 Rhode Island into the Sound, and in convoying 
 from Boston to Philadelphia. From a letter 
 which he wrote to the Hon. Mr. Morris, it appears 
 that he was actively engaged in annoying the 
 British trade ; but the state of the American navy 
 
PAUL JONES. t) 
 
 still excited his deep interest : — " As the regula- 
 tions of the navy are of the utmost consequence, 
 you will not think it presumptive if, with the 
 utmost diffidence, I venture to communicate to 
 you such hints as, in my judgment, will promote 
 its honour and good government. I could heartily 
 wish, that every commissioned officer were to be 
 previously examined ; for, to my certain know- 
 ledge, there are persons who have already crept 
 into commission without abilities or fit qualifica- 
 tions : I am myself far from desiring to be ex- 
 cused. From experience in ours, as well as from 
 my former intimacy with many officers of note in 
 the British navy, I am convinced that the parity 
 of rank between sea and land or marine officers is 
 of more consequence to the harmony of the service 
 than has been generally imagined. In the British 
 establishment, an Admiral ranks with a General; 
 a Vice-Admiral with a Lieutenant-General ; a 
 Rear- Admiral with a Major-General; a Commo- 
 dore with a Brigadier-General ; a Captain with a 
 Colonel ; a Master and Commander with a Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel ; a Lieutenant Commanding with 
 
ID THE LIFE OF 
 
 a Major ; and a Lieutenant in the navy ranks 
 with a Captain of horse, foot, or marines. I pro- 
 pose not our enemies as an example for our general 
 imitation ; yet, as their navy is the best regulated 
 of any in the world, we must in some degree imi- 
 tate them, and aim at such further improvements 
 as may one day make ours vie with and exceed 
 theirs." 
 
 From September, 177G, Jones was engaged in 
 an active cruise till the following October. His 
 exertions were very successful, since he took 
 " sixteen sail ; manned and sent in eight, and 
 sunk, burnt or otherwise destroyed the rest." 
 
 He complains to Mr. Morris of an important 
 expedition, which he had planned against the 
 fishery of Newfoundland, and which was likely to 
 fail from the want of men, who were enticed away 
 by the privateers. " It is to the last degree dis- 
 tressing to contemplate the state and establish- 
 ment of our navy. The common class of man- 
 kind are actuated by no nobler principle than that 
 of self-interest. This and this only determines 
 all adventures in privateers; the owners, as well 
 
PAUL JONES. ] 1 
 
 as those they employ ; and while this is the case, 
 unless the private emolument of individuals in our 
 navy is made superior to that in privateers, it never 
 can become respectable — it never will become 
 formidable ; and, without a respectable navy, alas 
 America ! In the present critical situation of 
 human affairs, wisdom can suggest no more than 
 one infallible expedient: enlist the seamen during 
 pleasure, and give them all the prizes. What is 
 the paltry emolument of two-thirds of prizes to 
 the finances of this vast continent ? If so poor a 
 resource is essential to its independency, in sober 
 sadness we are involved in a w r oful predicament, 
 and our ruin is fast approaching. The situation 
 of America is new in the annals of mankind : her 
 affairs cry haste ! and speed must answer them. 
 Trifles, therefore, ought to be wholly disregarded, 
 as being in the old vulgar proverb * penny wise 
 and pound foolish.' If our enemies, with the best 
 established and most formidable navy in the uni- 
 verse, have found it expedient to assign all prizes 
 to the captors, how much more is such policy 
 essential to our infant fleet ? But I need use no 
 
12 THE LIFE OF 
 
 arguments to convince you of the necessity of 
 making the emoluments of our navy equal if not 
 superior to theirs. We have had proof, that a 
 navy may be officered almost upon any terms, but 
 we are not so sure that these officers are equal to 
 their commissions ; nor will the Congress ever 
 obtain such certainty until they, in their wisdom, 
 see proper to appoint a Board of Admiralty com- 
 petent to determine impartially the respective 
 merits and abilities of their officers, and to super- 
 intend, regulate, and point out all the motions 
 and operations of the navy." 
 
 The correspondents of Jones were members of 
 Congress ; and his frequent and admirable obser- 
 vations on the state of the navy did not pass 
 unnoticed. 
 
 " An expedition of importance," he tells Mr. 
 Morris, " may be effected this winter on the coast 
 of Africa, with part of the original fleet ; either 
 the Alfred or Columbus with the Andrew Doria 
 and Providence, would, I am persuaded, carry all 
 before them, and give a blow to the English 
 African trade, which would not soon be recovered, 
 
PAUL JONES. ]3 
 
 by not leaving them a mast standing on that coast. 
 This expedition would be attended with no great 
 expense ; besides, the ships and vessels mentioned 
 are unfit for service on a winter coast, which is 
 not the case with the new frigates. The small 
 squadron for this purpose ought to sail early, that 
 the prizes may reach our ports in March or April. 
 If I do not succeed in manning the Alfred so as 
 to proceed to the eastward in course of this week, 
 the season will be lost; the coal fleet will be gone 
 to Halifax, and the fishermen to Europe." 
 
 The Providence was a sloop, and carried but 
 twelve six-pounders. During the cruise, it fell in 
 with the Solebay frigate of twenty-eight guns, 
 and afterwards with the Mitford frigate of thirty- 
 two guns. Jones escaped them both, after a 
 sharp action with the Solebay, which lasted several 
 hours. He afterwards sailed to the Isle Madame, 
 destroyed the fishing establishments there, and 
 burnt a considerable number of vessels. 
 
 On his return home, at the end of the year 
 1776, he was immediately appointed to the com- 
 mand of a squadron in Rhode Island. The 
 
14 THE LIFE OF 
 
 chief point of this expedition was Isle Royal. 
 In his way to this place Jones fell in with the 
 Mellish, an armed vessel from Liverpool; this 
 ship he captured, and he found that it contained 
 10,000 suits of uniform, which were intended 
 for the army of General Burgoyne. It so hap- 
 pened, that at this moment the troops of Wash- 
 ington were almost destitute of clothing. The 
 capture of the Mellish was, therefore, most op- 
 portune, and tended, in no slight degree, to in- 
 crease the reputation of Jones. After capturing 
 many prizes, the commander of the little squadron 
 arrived at Isle Royal. All the buildings appro- 
 priated to the whale and cod fisheries were de- 
 stroyed, together with a very valuable transport ; 
 but the chief object of the expedition, which was 
 to release the Americans who were confined in 
 the coal-mines there, was not effected. Jones 
 complained strongly to Mr. Hewes of the conduct 
 of the officers under him, " it completely overset 
 the expedition." 
 
 The irregularities of which Jones complained 
 arose altogether from the omission of Congress to 
 
l'AUL JONES. 15 
 
 establish a duo gradation of rank among the offi- 
 cers of the navy. But their most urgent atten- 
 tion was now given to that important branch 
 of national defence. A list of captains was 
 immediately published, and Jones's name was in- 
 serted in it ; regulations as to the pay, rank, and 
 uniform of the different branches of the navy were 
 immediately formed, and the whole force was 
 placed in a much more efficient state. 
 
 Jones was now acting under the commission of 
 Captain, from the independent authorities of the 
 United States of America.* 
 
 * In Congress. 
 The Delegates of the United States of New Hampshire, Mas- 
 sachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, 
 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, 
 North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, 
 
 To JOHN PAUL JONES, Esquire. 
 We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your 
 patriotism, valour, conduct and fidelity, do, by these presents, 
 constitute and appoint you to be Captain in the Navy of the 
 United States of North America, fitted out for the defence of 
 American liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion 
 thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to dis- 
 charge the duty of Captain by doing and performing all man- 
 ner of things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge 
 m and require all officers, marines,, and seamen under your 
 command, to be obedient to your orders as Captain. And 
 
1G THE LIFE OF 
 
 After receiving bis commission as Captain, Jones 
 devoted himself for a considerable time to the 
 communication of bis opinions, as to the course 
 which should be pursued to attain that perfection 
 in the American navy, which he so ardently de- 
 sired. Many of his ideas have been adopted by 
 the present American government, and have been 
 carried into effect on a very extensive scale. All 
 his plans are distinguished by the same practical 
 wisdom, of which w T e have before taken the op- 
 portunity of recording our admiration. 
 
 In a letter to Mr. Morris he strongly recom- 
 mends the appointment of Commissioners of Dock 
 
 you are to observe and follow such orders and directions 
 from time to time, as you shall receive from this or a future 
 Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for 
 that purpose appointed, or Commander-in-Chief for the time 
 being of the navy of the United States, or any other your supe- 
 rior officer, according to the rules and discipline of war, the 
 usage of the sea, and the instructions herewith given you, in 
 pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This commission to 
 continue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress. 
 Dated at Philadelphia, October 10, 1776. 
 
 By order of the Congress, 
 
 Attest, John Hancock, President. 
 
 Cn.v. Thomson, Secretary. 
 
PAUL JONES. 17 
 
 Yards, to superintend the building and outfit of 
 all ships of war. He adds, " I must repeat what 
 I asserted formerly, that unless some happy ex- 
 pedient can be fallen upon to induce the seamen 
 to enter into the service for a longer term than 
 twelve months, it will never be possible to bring 
 them under proper subordination, and subordina- 
 tion is as necessary, nay far more so, in the fleet 
 than in the army. Present advantage, though 
 small, will operate far more on the minds of sea- 
 men than future prospects, though great. They 
 ought at least to enter during the war— if not 
 during pleasure." 
 
 France was the European power to whom 
 America, in her fearful struggle, looked up for 
 secret assistance, if not for open countenance. 
 The hereditary enmity which existed between 
 that country and Great Britain; the opportunity 
 which the patronage of the American cause of- 
 fered of revenging past discomfiture, and of in- 
 creasing present dominion, all combined to make 
 the Court of Versailles view with no unfavouring 
 eye the transatlantic overtures. An anxiety as 
 
 c 
 
18 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to the nature of the means by which their political 
 ascendancy was to be obtained has never been the 
 characteristic of the illustrious House of Bourbon ; 
 and I will not stop here to contrast the disgrace- 
 ful eagerness with which the descendant of St. 
 Louis sanctified the rebellion of the English colo- 
 nies, with the prudent generosity with which the 
 Court of London watched the gleam of the last 
 war-blade on the Cordillera of the Andes. 
 
 Verily the French cabinet had their reward! 
 And the very men, who, authorized by their secret 
 instructions, hastened to assist rebellion in the 
 colonies of a friendly power, returned to exercise 
 on their own country a retributive vengeance. 
 
 In the year 1777, American commissioners re- 
 sided in Paris ; and " as a reward for the zeal he 
 had shewn, and for the signal services which he 
 had performed in vessels of little force," it was 
 resolved to dispatch Jones to Paris, with an order 
 to these commissioners " to invest him with the 
 command of a fine ship." 
 
 Every thing was arranged for the departure of 
 Jones, when, in the month of May, he sent in a 
 communication to the Secret Committee, in con- 
 
PAUL JONES. 19 
 
 sequence of which the whole design was laid aside, 
 and Congress immediately passed the two follow- 
 ing resolutions: 
 
 In Congress, June 14, 1777. 
 
 Resolved, That the flag of the Thirteen United 
 States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; 
 that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue 
 field, representing a new constellation. 
 
 Resolved, That Captain J. Paul Jones be ap- 
 pointed to command the ship Ranger. 
 
 Jones was presented with unlimited instructions : 
 " we shall not limit you to any particular cruizing 
 station, but leave you at large to search for your- 
 self, where the greatest chance of success pre- 
 sents." The Captain of the Ranger was imme- 
 diately to proceed to France. We shall in the 
 next Chapter become acquainted with the subject 
 of the mysterious letter which so suddenly changed 
 the proceedings of the American Congress. 
 
 Before his departure, Jones dispatched the 
 following letter to Tobago. 
 
 It will probably explain the nature of " the 
 
 c2 
 
20 THE LIFE OF . 
 
 very great misfortunes/' which he before so feel- 
 ingly mentioned. We give the letter entire, for 
 there is not a word which should be omitted. It 
 is written to an old and respected friend. The 
 heart of the bold Captain of the Ranger, the fa- 
 vourite of the American Congress, evidently sinks 
 as he addresses one who had been acquainted 
 with him in a far different situation, and we know 7 
 not which most affected us, the mixture of reck- 
 lessness and feeling with which he commences, or 
 his remembrance of his aged mother. 
 
 Boston, 4th May, 1777. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 After an unprofitable suspense of twenty 
 months, (having subsisted on fifty pounds only 
 during that time,) when my hopes of relief were 
 entirely cut off, and there remained no possibility 
 of my receiving wherewithal to subsist upon from 
 my effects in your island, or in England, I at last 
 had recourse to strangers for that aid and comfort 
 which was denied me by those friends whom I 
 had entrusted with my all. The good offices 
 
PAUL JONES. 21 
 
 which are rendered to persons in their extreme 
 need, ought to make deep impressions on grateful 
 minds; in my case I feel the truth of that senti- 
 ment, and am bound by gratitude, as well as 
 honour, to follow the fortunes of my late bene- 
 factors. 
 
 " I have lately seen Mr. Sicaton (late manager 
 on the estate of Arch. Stuart, Esq.) who in- 
 formed me that Mr. Ferguson had quitted Orange 
 Valley, on being charged with the unjust applica- 
 tion of the property of his employers. I have 
 been, and am extremely concerned at this account; 
 I wish to disbelieve it, although it seems too much 
 of a piece with the unfair advantage which, to all 
 appearance, he took of me, when he left me in 
 exile for twenty months, a prey to melancholy and 
 want, and withheld my property without writing 
 a word in excuse of his conduct. Thus circum- 
 stanced I have taken the liberty of sending you a 
 letter of attorney, by Captain Cleaveland, who 
 undertakes to deliver it himself, as he goes for 
 Tobago via Martinico. You have inclosed a 
 copy of a list of debts acknowledged, which I re- 
 
22 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ceivecl from Mr. Ferguson when I saw you last at 
 Orange Valley. You have also a list of debts con- 
 tracted with me, together with Ferguson's receipt. 
 And there remained a considerable property un- 
 sold, besides some best Madeira wine which he 
 had shipped for London. By the state of accounts 
 which I sent to England on my arrival on this 
 continent, there was a balance due to me from the 
 ship Betsy, of c£909 : 15s. 3d. sterling; and in my 
 account with Robert Young, Esq. 29th January, 
 1778, then appeared a balance in my favour of 
 .£281 : Is. 8c/. sterling; these sums exceed my 
 drafts and just debts together, so that, if I am 
 fairly dealt with, I ought to receive a considerable 
 remittance from that quarter. You will please to 
 observe that there were nine pieces of coarse 
 camblets shipped at Cork, over and above the 
 quantity expressed in the bill of lading. It seems 
 the shippers, finding their mistake, applied for the 
 goods ; and, as I have been informed from Grenada, 
 Mr. Ferguson laid hold of this opportunity to 
 propagate a report that all the goods which I put 
 into his hands were the property of that house in 
 
PAUL JONES. 23 
 
 Cork. If this base suggestion hath gained belief, 
 it accounts for all the neglect which I have ex- 
 perienced. But however my connections are 
 changed, my principles as an honest man of can- 
 dour and integrity are the same; therefore should 
 there not be a sufficiency of my property in Eng- 
 land to answer my just debts, I declare that it is 
 my first wish to make up such deficiency from my 
 property in Tobago ; and were even that also to 
 fall short, I am ready and willing to make full and 
 ample remittances from hence, upon hearing from 
 you the true state of my affairs. As I hope my 
 dear Mother is still alive, I must inform you that 
 I wish my property in Tobago, or in England, 
 after paying my just debts, to be applied for her 
 support. Your own feelings, my dear sir, make 
 it unnecessary for me to use arguments to prevail 
 with you "on this tender point. Any remittances 
 which you may be enabled to make, through the 
 hands of my good friend Captain John Plainer, of 
 Cork, will be faithfully put into her hands ; she 
 hath several orphan grandchildren to provide for; 
 
24 THE LIFE OF 
 
 I have made no apology for giving you this trouble, 
 my situation will, I trust, obtain your free pardon. 
 
 I am always with perfect esteem, 
 Dear sir, 
 Your very obliged, very obedient, 
 And most humble servant, 
 
 J. Paul Jones. 
 
 Stuart Mawey, Esquire, 
 Tobago. 
 
PAUL JONES. 
 
 w 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The subject of the letter to the Secret Committee— Jones 
 arrives in France— The descent upon Whitehaven— The 
 adventure of St Mary's Isle— The engagement with the 
 Drake— The Countess of Selkirk. 
 
 It is singular that during the first years of the 
 American navy, with the exception of Paul Jones, 
 no man of any talent is to be found directing its 
 operations. Had it not been for the exertions of 
 this individual, who was unsupported by fortune 
 or connection, it is very probable that the Ame- 
 rican naval power would have gradually disap- 
 peared. But Jones was not contented with 
 reforming petty abuses in the profession which he 
 so loved, or conducting expeditions near the shores 
 of his country. His views were more extensive, 
 and his comprehensive mind had been long intent 
 upon undertakings far more important. The 
 moment that he had obtained a due rank in the 
 service of his country, and when, from the im- 
 
26 THE LIFE OF 
 
 portance of his services, his advice became to be 
 considered as authority, he instantly developed 
 his ideas to the assembled Congress. The plan 
 of Jones was characterised bv a magnificent bold- 
 ness, unusual to the naval operations of those 
 days; and indeed it may be doubted, whether any 
 mode of conduct was ever recommended to the 
 notice of a government, at once so daring in its 
 conception, and so matured in its detail. 
 
 It required indeed no slight degree of courage 
 to recommend to a government of a country yet 
 covered with hostile armies, and whose shores 
 were surrounded by hostile fleets, to spare the 
 most efficient part of its little naval force, and to 
 send it to attack its powerful enemy in his very 
 country. Yet such was the plan of Paul Jones, 
 and at the latter end of the year 1777, he arrived 
 at Nantes, in France, with the view of maturing 
 his operations for attacking the coast of England. 
 
 It is singular that Jones, when he entered the 
 American service under the Reprisal resolution, 
 was the first man who hoisted the independent 
 standard: he now in the Ranger was the first 
 
PAUL JONES. 27 
 
 who hoisted the Union flag, and, at his arrival 
 at Brest, he had the honour of the first salute 
 which the American flag had ever received from 
 a foreign man-of-war. The French fleet under 
 Count D'Orvilliers was at Brest on his arrival. 
 The Captain of the Ranger delayed his salute, 
 until he was assured that the compliment would 
 be returned. This honour was the prelude of 
 war with England. 
 
 It has been often stated, that Jones was a 
 pirate, or a privateer at the best. His commission 
 is a sufficient answer to either of these accusa- 
 tions ; but to establish the fact, that he was acting 
 in concert with the authorities of the United 
 States, both at home and abroad, we may observe, 
 that he was furnished by the American commis- 
 sioners at Paris, with a letter of credit on their 
 agent at Nantes for 500 louis-d'or. The signature 
 of Dr. Franklin as one of the commissioners, is 
 attached to the order. 
 
 Jones sailed from Brest on the 10th of April, 
 1778. From the nature of his plan, he was little 
 desirous of encumbering himself with prisoners, 
 
28 THE L7FE OF 
 
 and he therefore avoided making prizes. His in- 
 tention was to make a descent at Whitehaven. 
 The weather, however, was unfavourable for his 
 enterprize for some days, and he continued 
 hovering about the coast, sinking all the craft he 
 met, in order " to prevent intelligence." 
 
 On the 21st, being near Carrickfergus, he 
 detained a fishing-boat for information. He was 
 surprized by seeing a ship at anchor in the road ; 
 this he found to be the Drake, a British ship of 
 war of twenty guns. He determined to attack 
 her in the night, but the wind was high, and, 
 from some accident which happened to his cable, 
 his plan failed. After some very stormy weather, 
 it was resolved, on the 22d, to make the de- 
 scent. The harbour of Whitehaven was one 
 of the most important in Great Britain, contain- 
 ing generally 400 sail, and some of a very consi- 
 derable size. The town itself contained near 
 60,000 inhabitants, and was strongly fortified. 
 When night came on, the wind became so light, 
 that the Ranger could not approach as near the 
 shore as its commander had originally intended. 
 At midnight, therefore, he left the ship, with two 
 
PAUL JONES. 29 
 
 boats and tliirty-one men who volunteered to 
 accompany him. As they reached the out-pier, 
 the day began to dawn: in spite, however, of this 
 circumstance, Jones determined not to abandon 
 the enterprize, but, dispatching one boat with 
 Lieutenant Wallingford with the necessary com- 
 bustibles to the north side of the harbour, he 
 proceeded with the other party to the southern 
 side. There was a dead silence when Jones, at 
 the head of his party, scaled the walls. He suc- 
 ceeded in spiking all the cannon of the first fort ; 
 and the sentinels, being shut up in the guard- 
 house, were fairly surprized. Having succeeded 
 thus far, Jones, with only one man, spiked up all 
 the cannon on the southern fort, distant from the 
 other a quarter of a mile. 
 
 These daring exploits being all performed 
 without disturbing a single being, Jones anxiously 
 looked for the expected blaze on the north side 
 of the harbour. His anxiety was further in- 
 creased, as all the combustibles had been entrusted 
 to the northern party, they, after performing their 
 task, having to join him to fire the shipping on the 
 
30 THE LIFE OF 
 
 south side. The anxiously expected blaze did 
 not, however, appear ; Jones hastened to Lieute- 
 nant Wallingford, and found the whole party in 
 confusion, their light having burnt out at the in- 
 stant when it became necessary. By a sad fatality 
 his own division were in the same plight, for, in 
 hurrying to the southern party, their candles had 
 also burnt out. The day was breaking apace, 
 and the failure of the expedition seemed complete. 
 Any other commander but Jones would, in this 
 predicament, have thought himself fortunate in 
 making his retreat good; but Jones would not 
 retreat. He had the boldness to send a man to a 
 house detached from the town to ask for a light ; 
 the request was successful, and fire was kindled 
 in the steerage of a large ship, which was sur- 
 rounded by at least one hundred and fifty others, 
 chiefly from two to four hundred tons burthen. 
 There was not time to fire any more than one 
 place, and Jones's care was to prevent that one 
 from being easily extinguished. After some 
 search a barrel of tar was found, and poured into 
 the flames, which now burnt up from all the 
 
PAUL JONES. 31 
 
 hatchways. " The inhabitants," says Jones in 
 
 his letter to the American commissioners, " began 
 
 to appear in thousands, and individuals ran hastily 
 
 towards us ; I stood between them and the ship 
 
 on fire, with a pistol in my hand, and ordered 
 
 them to retire, which they did with precipitation. 
 
 The flames had already caught the rigging, and 
 
 began to ascend the mainmast; the sun was a full 
 
 hour's march above the horizon, and as sleep no 
 
 longer ruled the world, it was time to retire ; we 
 
 reimbarked without opposition. After all my 
 
 people had embarked, I stood upon the pier for a 
 
 considerable time, yet no persons advanced; I 
 
 saw all the eminences around the town covered 
 
 with the enraged inhabitants. 
 
 " When we had rowed to a considerable dis- 
 tance from the shore, the English began to run in 
 vast numbers to their forts. Their disappoint- 
 ment may be easily imagined, when they found at 
 least thirty cannon, the instruments of their ven- 
 geance, rendered useless. At length, however, 
 they began to fire ; having, as I apprehend, either 
 brought down ship-guns, or used one or two 
 
32 THE LIFE OF 
 
 cannon which lay on the beach at the foot of the 
 walls, dismantled, and which had not been spiked. 
 They fired with no direction, and the shot falling 
 short of the boats, instead of doing any damage, 
 afforded us some diversion, which my people 
 could not help shewing by firing their pistols, &c. 
 in return of the salute. Had it been possible to 
 have landed a few hours sooner, my success would 
 have been complete ; not a single ship out of 
 more than 200 could possibly have escaped, and 
 all the world would not have been able to have 
 saved the town. What w r as done, however, is 
 sufficient to shew, that not all their boasted navy 
 can protect their own coasts, and that the scenes 
 of distress, which they have occasioned in Ame- 
 rica, may be soon brought home to their own 
 door !" 
 
 He adds, " one of my people was missing ; and 
 must, I fear, have fallen into the enemy's hands 
 after our departure. I was pleased that in this 
 business we neither killed nor wounded any per- 
 son ; I brought off three prisoners as a sample." 
 
 The missing man need not have been regretted ; 
 
OQ 
 
 PAUL JONES. 33 
 
 he was a traitor, and his exertions, not the break- 
 ing of the morn, nor the sudden blaze, saved the 
 town. I find by a newspaper of the time, an ex- 
 traordinary number of which was published the 
 morning after the descent, that " a little after 
 three o'clock this morning a man rapped at several 
 doors in Marlborough Street, (adjoining one of 
 the piers,) and informed them that fire had been 
 set to one of the ships in the harbour; that 
 matches were laid in several others ; that the whole 
 would be soon in a blaze, and the town also de- 
 stroyed ; that he was one belonging to the crew, 
 but had escaped for the purpose of saving, if pos- 
 sible, the town and shipping from destruction.*" 
 
 The descent at Whitehaven produced conster- 
 nation all over the kingdom. Expresses were 
 immediately dispatched to all the capital sea- 
 ports ; all strangers in Whitehaven were immedi- 
 ately ordered to be arrested; similar directions were 
 forwarded through the country. Look-out vessels 
 were appointed at every port ; continual meetings 
 
 .* Cumberland Pacquet Extraordinary, April 23. 
 
 D 
 
34 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of the principal inhabitants were held all down the 
 coast; companies were raised by subscription; 
 and all forts and guns were immediately put into 
 proper condition. 
 
 These active operations did not, however, deter 
 the commander of the Ranger from carrying on 
 the execution of his bold conceptions. From 
 Whitehaven the Americans stood over to the 
 Scotch shore, and the very noon of the day whose 
 dawn had witnessed the firing of the Cumberland 
 shipping, was the moment selected for an exploit, 
 if possible, of a still more daring nature. 
 
 The treatment of the American prisoners of 
 war in England had long been the subject of bit- 
 ter and just complaint, not only by their own 
 countrymen, but by the majority of the English 
 nation itself. Subscriptions for their relief, and 
 even sustenance, had been opened in most of the 
 principal towns of Great Britain; but this ebulli- 
 tion of national feeling had not yet produced any 
 change in the conduct of the administration. — 
 Paul Jones was deeply affected by the sufferings 
 of his imprisoned countrymen, and was constantly 
 
PAUL JONES. 35 
 
 intent " upon striking a blow in their favour." 
 His favourite plan was to gain possession of the 
 person of some Englishman of high rank, and 
 then, by the influence of the captive noble, to 
 procure an amelioration of the condition of his 
 imprisoned countrymen. 
 
 With this view, Jones suddenly, on the cele- 
 brated 23d of April, landed at noon on St. Mary's 
 Isle, accompanied by a boat's crew. On this 
 island was the family seat of the Earl of Selkirk, 
 and to this mansion Jones immediately directed 
 his steps. Before, however, he reached the house, 
 he learnt, that the Earl had lately left St. Mary's 
 for the metropolis. As the object of the expe- 
 dition could not now be obtained, Jones proposed 
 to re-embark, but his crew murmured. The 
 English, they said, were not accustomed to spare 
 either life or property in America, and they saw 
 not why, as they had landed, they should not pay 
 their intended visit. They were the same men who 
 had landed at Whitehaven, and the captain could 
 scarcely refuse them this reasonable favour. He 
 himself however avoided a personal interference, 
 
 d2 
 
36 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and leaving the command of his men to his lieu- 
 tenant, with strict injunctions to behave with scru- 
 pulous politeness, he returned to his ship. The 
 crew were somewhat moved by their leader's deli- 
 cacy. They would not enter the mansion, but 
 entrusted the business to their commanding officer. 
 Lady Selkirk met the lieutenant, and behaved with 
 great firmness : the officer's demand was moderate, 
 at least for one in his situation, and the boat's 
 crew returned to the Ranger with the family plate 
 of the house of Douglas. 
 
 On the succeeding morning Jones was off Car- 
 rickfergus, and was meditating an entrance into 
 that port, when he found that, during his expedi- 
 tion to St. Mary's Isle, the English had not been 
 inactive. His old friend the Drake was seen 
 slowly approaching him : she was attended by 
 five small vessels full of people, who were anxious 
 to witness the punishment of the redoubted 
 Ranger. The Drake had come out in conse- 
 quence of an express from Whitehaven, and was 
 very fully manned. Alarm smokes now appeared 
 in great abundance, extending along both sides 
 of the channel. The tide was unfavourable, so 
 
v PAUL JONES. 37 
 
 that the Drake worked out of harbour but slowly. 
 This obliged the Ranger to run down several times, 
 and to lay with courses up and main topsail to 
 the mast. At length the Drake weathered the 
 point, and having led out to about mid-channel, 
 Jones suffered her to. come within hail. The 
 Drake now hoisted English colours, and at the 
 same moment the American stars were displayed 
 on board the Ranger. The American commander 
 expected that preface was now at an end, but the 
 English soon after hailed, and demanded what ship 
 it was? The answer was characteristic — "The 
 American ship Ranger ; we wait for you, and 
 desire that you will come on. The sun is now 
 little more than one hour from setting, it is there- 
 fore time to begin." 
 
 The Drake being astern of the Ranger, Jones 
 ordered the helm up, and gave the first broad- 
 side. The action was warm, close, and obstinate; 
 it lasted an hour and four minutes, when the 
 enemy struck. The fore and main topsail yards 
 of the Drake were cut away, and down on the 
 cap; the top-gallant and mizen-gafF both hanging 
 
38 THE LIFE OF 
 
 up and down along the mast; the second ensign, 
 which the Drake had hoisted, had been shot 
 away, and was hanging on the quarter-gallery in 
 the water ; her sails and rigging were entirely cut 
 to pieces; her masts and yards all wounded, and 
 her hull very much galled. The captain re- 
 ceived a musket ball in his head the moment 
 before they called for quarter, and expired just 
 after the Ranger's people boarded their prize : 
 the lieutenant survived the captain only two 
 days. " I buried them," says Jones, in his letter 
 to the American commissioners, " with the ho- 
 nours due to their rank, and with the respect due 
 to their memory." The English suffered dread- 
 fully, from the number of their crew. Jones lost 
 his lieutenant, but his men suffered slightly. 
 
 Such was the issue of this anxiously expected 
 contest; glorious indeed to Jones and his crew, 
 but producing a consternation in the minds of the 
 inhabitants of the surrounding coasts quite un- 
 paralleled. The descent upon Whitehaven, — the 
 expedition to St. Mary's, and the boldness of its 
 avowed object, — the capture of the Drake, followed 
 
PAUL JONES. 39 
 
 with such rapidity, that the public mind was per- 
 fectly thunderstruck. Rumour increased the 
 terror for which there was but good reason. The 
 daily journals teemed hourly with circumstantial 
 accounts of strange seventy-fours seen in the 
 Channel — of expeditions which were never 
 planned — and destruction which never occurred ! 
 In one night Paul Jones was in all parts of Eng- 
 land, and his dreadful name was a sufficient 
 reason for surveys of fortifications, and subscrip- 
 tions to build them. At Whitehaven they sub- 
 scribed upwards of a thousand pounds, and en- 
 gineers were immediately ordered down to take a 
 survey of the harbour, in order to erect some 
 works on the north side of it. # Four companies 
 were immediately ordered to Whitehaven, and a 
 company of Gentlemen Volunteers was also 
 formed there. The express that brought the news 
 from Belfast of the capture of the Drake was put 
 upon his oath.f 
 
 When the ships were refitted, Jones put his 
 
 * London Magazine for May 1778. 
 j Cumberland Pacquet, April 28. 
 
40 THE LIFE OF 
 
 first lieutenant Simpson in the command of the 
 Drake; he also released the " honest fisher- 
 men" whom he had taken upon the 21st. " As 
 the poor fellows had lost their boat, she having 
 sunk in the late stormy weather, I was happy in 
 having it in my power to give them the necessary 
 sum to purchase every thing new which they had 
 lost. I gave them also a good boat to transport 
 themselves ashore, and sent with them two infirm 
 men, on whom I bestowed the last guinea in my 
 possession, to defray their travelling expenses to 
 their proper home in Dublin. They took with 
 them one of the Drake's sails, which would suffi- 
 ciently explain what had happened to the volun- 
 teers of Belfast. The grateful fishermen were in 
 rapture, and expressed their joy in three huzzas 
 as they passed the Ranger's quarters." 
 
 Jones now thought of returning. Splendid as 
 had been his successes, he was convinced that, 
 had he been properly supported, much more 
 might have been done. A great want of subordi- 
 nation had been always apparent in his men : the 
 American common sailors, carrying their notions 
 
PAUL JONES. 11 
 
 of civil government on board a man-of-war, ima- 
 gined that they had a right to be consulted when- 
 ever any extraordinary duty was to be performed. 
 Jones had been formed in a very different school ; 
 he was a strict disciplinarian, and required every 
 thing to be performed with the most rigid punc- 
 tuality and obedience. But he was well acquainted 
 with the faults of the American naval system, and 
 his ambition was to reform it. His patience was, 
 however, somewhat taxed when, on making signals 
 to his consort, the Drake, he found them totally 
 disregarded, and that Lieufenant Simpson, who 
 commanded the prize, did not consider himself 
 amenable to his authority ! 
 
 At length the two ships anchored in the road 
 of Brest, on the 8th of May ; on which very day, 
 Paul Jones put Lieutenant Simpson under sus- 
 pension and arrest for disobedience of orders, and 
 wrote the following letter to the Countess of Sel- 
 kirk:— 
 
 " Ranger, Brest, 8th May, 1778. 
 Madam, 
 
 It cannot be too much lamented, that, in 
 
 the profession of arms, the officer of fine feelings 
 
42 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and real sensibility should be under the necessity 
 of winking at any action of persons under his 
 command, which his heart cannot approve ; but 
 the reflection is doubly severe, when he finds 
 himself obliged, in appearance, to countenance 
 such acts by his authority. 
 
 " This hard case was mine, when, on the 23d of 
 April last, I landed on St. Mary's Isle. Knowing 
 Lord Selkirk's interest with the King, and esteem- 
 ing as I do his private character, I wished to make 
 him the happy instrument of alleviating the hor- 
 rors of hopeless captivity, when the brave are 
 overpowered and made prisoners of war. 
 
 "It was, perhaps, fortunate for you, madam, that 
 he was from home ; for it was my intention to 
 have taken him on board the Ranger, and to have 
 detained him, until, through his means, a general 
 and fair exchange of prisoners, as well in Europe 
 as in America, had been effected. When I was 
 informed by some men whom I met at landing, 
 that his lordship was absent, I walked back to 
 my boat, determined to leave the island. By the 
 way, however, some officers, who were with me, 
 could not forbear expressing their discontent, 
 
PAUL JONES. 43 
 
 observing that, in America, no delicacy was shown 
 by the English, who took away all sorts of move- 
 able property ; setting fire, not only to towns, and 
 to the houses of the rich, without distinction, but 
 not even sparing the wretched hamlets and milch 
 cows of the poor and helpless, at the approach of 
 an inclement winter. That party had been with 
 me, the same morning, at Whitehaven; some 
 complaisance, therefore, was their due. I had 
 but a moment to think how I might gratify them, 
 and at the same time do your ladyship the least 
 injury. I charged the two officers to permit none 
 of the seamen to enter the house, or to hurt any- 
 thing about it; to treat you, madam, with the 
 utmost respect ; to accept of the plate which was 
 offered, and to come away without making a search, 
 or demanding anything else. 
 
 " I am induced to believe that I was punctually 
 obeyed, since I am informed that the plate which 
 they brought away is far short of the quantity 
 expressed in the inventory which accompanied it. 
 I have gratified my men ; and, when the plate is 
 sold, I shall become the purchaser, and will gratify 
 
44 THE LIFE OF 
 
 my own feelings by restoring it to you, by such 
 conveyance as you shall please to direct. 
 
 " Had the earl been on board the Ranger the 
 following evening, he would have seen the awful 
 pomp and dreadful carnage of a sea engagement ; 
 both affording ample subject for the pencil, as 
 well as melancholy reflection for the contemplative 
 mind. Humanity starts back from such scenes of 
 horror, and cannot sufficiently execrate the vile 
 promoters of this detestable war — 
 
 1 For they, 'twas they, unsheathed the ruthless blade, 
 And heaven shall ask the havoc it has made.' 
 
 " The British ship of war Drake, mounting twenty 
 guns, with more than her full complement of 
 officers and men, was our opponent. The ships 
 met, and the advantage was disputed with great 
 fortitude on each side, for an hour and four mi- 
 nutes, when the gallant commander of the Drake 
 fell, and victory declared in favour of the Ranger. 
 The amiable lieutenant lay mortally wounded, be- 
 sides near forty of the inferior officers and crew, 
 killed and wounded : a melancholy demonstration 
 of the uncertainty of human prospects, and of the 
 
PAUL JONES. 45 
 
 sad reverse of fortune which an hour can pro- 
 duce. I buried them in a spacious grave, with the 
 honours due to the memory of the brave. 
 
 " Though I have drawn my sword in the present 
 generous struggle for the rights of men, yet I am 
 not in arms as an American, nor am I in pursuit 
 of riches. My fortune is liberal enough, having 
 no wife nor family, and having lived long enough 
 to know that riches cannot ensure happiness. I 
 profess myself a citizen of the world, totally un- 
 fettered by the little, mean distinctions of climate 
 or of country, which diminish the benevolence of 
 the heart and set bounds to philanthropy. Be- 
 fore this war began, I had at the early time of life 
 withdrawn from the sea service, in favour of { calm 
 contemplation and poetic ease/ I have sacrificed 
 not only my favourite scheme of life, but the softer 
 affections of the heart and my prospects of 
 domestic happiness, and I am ready to sacrifice 
 my life also with cheerfulness, if that forfeiture 
 could restore peace and good will among mankind. 
 
 " As the feelings of your gentle bosom cannot 
 but be congenial with mine, let me entreat you, 
 
46 THE LIFE OF 
 
 madam, to use your persuasive art with your 
 husband's to endeavour to stop this cruel and 
 destructive war, in which Britain can never suc- 
 ceed. Heaven can never countenance the barba- 
 rous and unmanly practice of the Britons in 
 America, which savages would blush at, and 
 which, if not discontinued, will soon be retaliated 
 on Britain by a justly enraged people. Should 
 you fail in this, (for I am persuaded that you will 
 attempt it : and who can resist the power of such 
 an advocate ?) your endeavours to effect a general 
 exchange of prisoners will be an act of humanity, 
 which will afford you golden feelings on a death- 
 bed. 
 
 " I hope this cruel contest will soon be closed ; 
 but should it continue, I wage no war with the 
 fair. I acknowledge their force, and bend before 
 it with submission. Let not, therefore, the amiable 
 Countess of Selkirk regard me as an enemy ; I am 
 ambitious of her esteem and friendship, and would 
 do any thing, consistent with my duty, to merit it. 
 
 " The honour of a line from your hand, in answer 
 to this, will lay me under a singular obligation ; 
 
PAUL JONES. 47 
 
 and if I can render you any acceptable service in 
 France or elsewhere, I hope you see into my cha- 
 racter so far as to command me without the least 
 grain of reserve. 
 
 " I wish to know exactly the behaviour of my 
 people, as I am determined to punish them if they 
 have exceeded their liberty. I have the honour 
 to be, with much esteem and with profound 
 
 respect, Madam, &c. &c. 
 
 John Paul Jones. 
 
 To the Countess of Selkirk." 
 
 Jones did not receive any answer to this letter 
 for some months, when the following letter from 
 Dr. Franklin explained the reason of the silence 
 of the Scottish peer. The good doctor seems 
 somewhat amused at the romantic gallantry of his 
 friend. 
 
 "Passy, Feb. 24th, 1779. 
 
 Dear Captain, 
 
 Mr. Alexander called here this morning 
 to deliver a little message, to be communicated to 
 you, from Lord Selkirk. The purport was, that 
 his lordship had written an answer to your letter, 
 

 48 THE LIFE OF 
 
 which answer, after having been detained many 
 months in the Post Office, had been sent back to 
 him; that, as to the proposition of returning the 
 plate, if it was made by order of Congress or any 
 public body, he would accept of it, and endeavour 
 to make suitable returns for the favour ; but if by 
 a private person's generosity, the Captain's for 
 instance, he could by no means receive it. You 
 will now judge whether it is worth while to give 
 yourself any further trouble about that matter. 
 
 I am, your's, 
 
 B. Franklin." 
 
 On the 1st of March, 1780, Jones wrote again 
 to Lady Selkirk: 
 
 " L'Orient, March 1st, 1780. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 It is now ten or eleven months since His 
 Excellency B. Franklin, Esq., Minister Plenipo- 
 tentiary for the United States of America at the 
 court of France, communicated to me a message 
 from the earl your husband, in a letter to his 
 friend Mr. Alexander at Paris, in substance as 
 
P VUL JONES. 41) 
 
 follows : " That he, the Earl of Selkirk, had 
 written an answer to the letter that I had the 
 honour to write to your ladyship in May, 1778, 
 from Brest, respecting your plate ; which answer, 
 after being detained for several months at Lon- 
 don, in the General Post-Office, had been re- 
 turned to Scotland. He therefore wished Mr. 
 Alexander to inform the concerned, that if the 
 plate was to be restored by Congress or any public 
 body, it would be accepted ; but if through the 
 generosity of an individual, his delicacy would 
 scruple to receive it. 
 
 " The true reason why I have not written to you 
 since I received the above information has been 
 because the plate has but now come into my pos- 
 session from the public agents, and I have besides 
 been for the greatest part of the time absent from 
 this kingdom. 
 
 " I have now the satisfaction to inform you, that 
 Congress has relinquished their real or supposed 
 interest in the plate, and, for my own part, I scorn to 
 add to my fortune by such an acquisition. As for 
 the part claimed by the few men who landed with 
 
M) THE LIFE 
 
 me on St. Mary's Isle, it is of little consequence, 
 and they are already satisfied. Thus you see, 
 madam, that the earl's objection is removed. 
 " The plate is lodged here in the hands of Messrs. 
 Gourlade and Moylan, who hold it at your dis- 
 posal, and will forward it agreeably to your orders 
 by land or by water to Holland, Ostend, or any 
 other port you may think proper. 
 
 " I shall be happy by my conduct through life 
 to merit the good opinion of the Earl and Countess 
 of Selkirk, for I am, with great esteem and pro- 
 found respect, madam, 
 
 Your most obedient 
 
 And humble servant, 
 
 John Paul Jones. 
 
 The Right Hon. Countess or Selkirk, 
 &c. &c. &c." 
 
PAUL JONE^ j I 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The American commissioners — Jones's distress — His exer- 
 tions — Secret undertakings — Incessant disappointments — 
 His appeal to the minister — His letter to the king. 
 
 So highly did the American commissioners appre- 
 ciate the descent upon Whitehaven that they 
 recommended the men who landed with Jones 
 to the especial favour of Congress, Their com- 
 mander also was not backward in his exertions in 
 their favour, and he immediately suggested to the 
 Marine Committee " the propriety of rewarding 
 the brave men who had been concerned in a ser- 
 vice unprecedented in latter wars." 
 
 But while the alacrity with which this recom- 
 mendation was made by the American commis- 
 sioners must assuredly have been gratifying to 
 the heart of Jones — the conqueror of the Drake, 
 the terror of the coasts of England, found himself, 
 on his arrival at Brest, in a condition not very 
 enviable. " Could I suppose," he says, in writing 
 
 e2 
 
52 THE LIFE 01 
 
 to the commissioners, " could I suppose that my 
 letters of the 9th and lGth current (the first ad- 
 vising you of my arrival, and giving reference to 
 the events of my expedition — the last advising 
 you of my draft in favour of M. Bersolle for 
 24,000 livres, and assigning reasons for that de- 
 mand) had not made due appearance, I would 
 hereafter, as I do now, inclose copies. Three 
 posts have already arrived from Paris since Count 
 D'Orvilliers shewed me the answer which he 
 received from the minister to the letter which 
 inclosed mine to you : yet you remain silent. 
 
 " M. Bersolle has this moment informed me 
 of the fate of my bills, the more extraordinary, as 
 I have not yet made use of your letter of credit of 
 the 20th January last ; whereby I then seemed 
 entitled to call for half the amount of my last draft, 
 and I did not expect to be thought extravagant 
 when, on the 16th current, I doubled that demand. 
 Could this indignity be kept secret, I should dis- 
 regard it ; and, though it is already public in 
 Brest and in the fleet, as it affects only my private 
 credit, I will not complain : I cannot, however, 
 
PAUL JONES. 53 
 
 be silent, when 1 find the public credit involved 
 in the same disgrace. I conceive this might 
 have been prevented. To make me completely 
 wretched, M. de Bersolle has told me, that he 
 now stops his hand, not only of the necessary 
 articles to refit the ship, but also of the daily pro- 
 visions. I know not where to find to-morrow's 
 dinner for the great number of mouths that de- 
 pend on me for food. Are the continental ships 
 of war to depend on the sale of their prizes for a 
 daily dinner for their men? ' Publish it not in 
 Gath !' 
 
 " My officers, as well as men, want clothes ; and 
 the prizes are precluded from being sold before 
 further advices arrive from the minister: I ask 
 you, gentlemen, if I have deserved all this ?" 
 
 But alas ! the commissioners were without 
 authority and without funds! They promised, 
 they apologized, they even exceeded their instruc- 
 tions ; but little was done, and every thing was 
 left to the unfortunate commander. 
 
 From all these difficulties he managed to extri- 
 cate himself " I was left," he says, in a letter to 
 
.")i THE LIFE or 
 
 Mr. Lee, " with 200 prisoners of war, a number 
 of sick and wounded, and almost naked crew, and 
 a ship after a severe engagement, in want of stores 
 and provisions, from the 9th May to the 13th 
 June, destitute of any public support. Yet I 
 found means to cure the wounded, feed my 
 people, refit my ship, and guard my prisoners. 
 The dishonour that had been done me was known 
 throughout the French fleet, and elsewhere ; yet, 
 though I was the first that had obtained from 
 France the honours due to the American flag, I 
 made no public complaints, and only expressed 
 my concern, by a letter to the commissioners, at 
 the disgraceful wound which the public credit 
 had received." 
 
 Fortune was not an object that Paul Jones ever 
 aimed at ; his character, in pecuniary affairs, was 
 like that of most sailors, and his property was 
 always ready to carry into execution any favourite 
 project, whether for the nation, or for his own 
 private interest. 
 
 " I hope," says he, in another letter to the 
 commissioner:, il that you do not mean to impute 
 
i.L JONES. 
 
 to me a desire to receive presents of the public 
 money, or even to touch a dollar of it for my own 
 private use. On the contrary, I need not now 
 assert, that I stepped forth from the beginning 
 from nobler motives. My accounts, before I left 
 America, testify, that I am more than j£l 500 in 
 advance for the public service, exclusive of any 
 concern with the sloop of war Ranger ; and as 
 for wages, I have never received any." 
 
 When Jones left the United States for France, 
 he was promised eventually the command of a fri- 
 gate of the first class, which had been built for 
 the United States in Holland. The building of 
 this vessel was discovered by the English, and it 
 was finally taken by the French monarch into his 
 navy. Jones was, therefore, disappointed in not 
 taking the command of an American frigate. At 
 the particular request of the French king, and 
 with the approbation of Congress, he still re- 
 mained in France; but this state of inactivity and 
 suspense ill suited his ardent temperament. His 
 ambition was of the most intense description. 
 He seemed lo have no other though tin life than 
 
O(') THE LIFE OF 
 
 obtaining the world's applause and admiration. 
 He was actually terrified if he appeared to be 
 neglected or not sufficiently valued. As his drafts 
 had been dishonoured, and he was without em- 
 ployment, he was constantly afraid " that he should 
 be looked upon as an officer in disgrace." 
 
 He was employed, during the month of June, 
 1778, in conjunction with Dr. Franklin, in form- 
 ing schemes for the destruction of the " common 
 enemy of France and America." 
 
 France had not yet formally declared war 
 against Great Britain, although the fleets of the 
 two nations were in active service, and engage- 
 ments had even taken place. War was, however, 
 declared on the beginning of the following July. 
 A frequent correspondence passed between 
 Franklin and Jones during the month of June. 
 fi I am now ready to go," said the commander, 
 " wherever the service calls me. If two or three 
 fast sailing ships could be collected, there is a 
 pf-reat choice of private enterprizes ; some of 
 which might succeed, and add more to the inte- 
 
PAUL JONES. 57 
 
 rest and honour of America than cruizing with 
 twice the force. It appears to me to be the pro- 
 vince of our infant navy to surprize and spread 
 alarms with fast sailing ships. When we grow 
 stronger, we can meet their fleets, and dispute 
 with them the sovereignty of the ocean." 
 
 This great choice of private adventures was 
 verily " sweet to cull from." Three fast sailing 
 frigates, with one or two tenders, were to enter 
 the Irish channel, and effectually do for White- 
 haven. This was to render it difficult, if not im- 
 possible, to supply Ireland with coal the ensuing 
 winter ; the same force was also considered suffi- 
 cient to take the Bank of Ayr in Scotland, and 
 destroy the town, and perhaps the whole shipping 
 in the Clyde ; and, if well arranged, the town also 
 of Greenock, and Port Glasgow. The fishery at 
 Cambletown was thought also " an object worthy 
 attention." In some parts of Ireland, it was ex- 
 pected ships might be found worth ,£150,000 to 
 ^£200,000 each. Britain was, also, to be alarmed 
 on the eastern side. An inferior force was to 
 provide for the objects of this expedition, which 
 
58 THE LITE OF 
 
 \ 
 
 were to be the destruction of the coal shipping of 
 Newcastle, and thereby the occasioning the 
 utmost distress for fuel in London. Many towns 
 of consequence were noted on the east and north 
 coasts of England and Scotland, which were de- 
 fenceless, and might be either burnt or laid under 
 contribution. " The success of either of these 
 or the like enterprize," says Jones, in a letter to 
 Mons. de Sartine, the French minister of marine, 
 " will depend in surprizing well, and on dispatch 
 both in the attack and in the retreat ; therefore, 
 It is necessary the ships should sail fast, and that 
 their forces should be sufficient to repel any of 
 the enemy's cruizing frigates, two of which may 
 perhaps be met at a time. It is scarcely con- 
 ceivable how great a panic the success of any one 
 of these projects would occasion in England. It 
 would convince the world, that their coasts are 
 vulnerable, and would, consequently, hurt their 
 public credit. 
 
 " If alarming the coast of Britain should be 
 thought inexpedient, to intercept the enemy's 
 West India or Baltic fleets, or their Hudson Bay 
 
PAUL JONES. 59 
 
 ships, or to destroy their Greenland fishery, are 
 capital objects." 
 
 It was agreed that three frigates and two ten- 
 ders should be immediately put under Jones's 
 command, with unlimited orders. He was now 
 busy in arranging for his expedition. He was in 
 great want of a chaplain, and thus writes to a 
 friend upon the subject : " I should wish him to 
 be a man of reading and of letters, who under- 
 stands, speaks and writes the French and English 
 with elegance and propriety ; for political reasons 
 it would be well if he were a clergyman of the 
 Protestant profession, whose sanctity of manners 
 and happy natural principles would diffuse una- 
 nimity and cheerfulness through the ship; and, if 
 to these essentials were added the talent of 
 writing fast and in fair characters, such a man 
 would necessarily be worthy the highest confi- 
 dence, and might therefore assure himself of my 
 esteem and friendship; he should always have a 
 place at my table, the regulation whereof should 
 be entirely under his direction." 
 
60 THE LIFE OF 
 
 About this time he also wrote the following 
 letter to General Washington : 
 
 " Passy, August 6th, 1778. 
 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 As the scene of war by sea is now 
 changed from America to Europe, I have been 
 induced to give up the command of the American 
 ship of war the Ranger, and to continue for some 
 time in Europe, in compliance with the request of 
 the minister of the French marine, contained in 
 a letter to our minister plenipotentiary at the 
 court of Versailles. I will not intrude upon your 
 Excellency's time even by attempting to pay you 
 the respect which you so justly command. The 
 intention of this letter is only to beg your accept- 
 ance of two epaulettes with which it is accompa- 
 panied, and which my friend Mr. Williams, of 
 Nantz, has undertaken to forward. 
 
 " I expected to have had the honour of deliver- 
 ing this little present into your own hands, but 
 not having that satisfaction, if I can render you 
 any acceptable services in France 1 hope you will 
 
PAUL JONES. (>1 
 
 command me without reserve, being, with senti- 
 ments of perfect esteem, 
 
 Honoured sir, 
 
 Yours, 
 
 J. Paul Jones. 
 
 His Excellency General Washington, 
 &c. &c. v 
 
 The frigates, however, were not forthcoming, 
 and an inferior armament at L'Orient was offered 
 to the American leader. To L'Orient Jones im- 
 mediately repaired ; but on his arrival he found 
 that the command of this inferior armament was 
 already entrusted to another officer. Disgusted 
 with these proceedings, he requested permission 
 to embark as a volunteer on board the French 
 fleet, but this was refused. 
 
 The Prince of Nassau had volunteered to 
 accompany Jones in his first intended expedition. 
 The prince forgot his promise : Jones wrote to 
 him in despair. He reminded him of the brilliant 
 prospects which he (Jones) had resigned in Ame- 
 rica for the sake of commanding the combined 
 squadron in Europe, and of serving with the 
 
62 THE LIFE OF 
 
 prince. " When your intentions were communi- 
 cated to me, I had under my command a sliip 
 bound, in company with two fine frigates, for 
 America, where there* are now two new ships of 
 eighty guns each, and eight frigates of forty guns 
 each, nearly ready for sea. On my arrival there, 
 from the former confidence of Congress, I had 
 assurance of an immediate removal into one of 
 their best ships, and to have been appointed to 
 command the first squadron which they thought 
 fit to destine for any private expedition. Before 
 I came to Europe, Congress honoured me with 
 several such appointments, and I had assurance 
 that, when admirals were appointed, my name 
 would be remembered. These, my prince, were 
 flattering prospects to a man who drew his sword 
 only from principles of philanthropy, and in sup- 
 port of the dignity of human nature : yet these 
 are the prospects I have voluntarily laid aside that 
 I might pursue glory in your company. Suffer 
 me not therefore, I beseech you, to continue 
 longer in this shameful inactivity. Such dishonour 
 is worse to me than a thousand deaths." 
 
PAUL JONES. QS 
 
 Jones was determined not to be daunted. IK* 
 had reason to believe that the court was decidedly 
 in his favour, but that the jealousy of the French 
 officers prevented them from availing themselves 
 of his talents as they wished. ' This wish, indeed, 
 was the cause of their refusal to allow him to act 
 as a volunteer on board the fleet. Jones panted 
 for action. His desire for fame, to quote his own 
 words, ivas infinite. He followed up his letter to 
 the Prince of Orange by an energetic appeal to 
 the minister De Sartine. 
 
 " When his Excellency Dr. Franklin first in- 
 formed me that you had condescended to think 
 me worthy your notice, I took such pleasure in 
 reflecting on the happy alliance between France 
 and America that I was really flattered, and enter- 
 tained a grateful sense of the honour which you 
 proposed for me, as well as the favour which the 
 king proposed for America, by putting so fine a 
 ship of war as the Indian under my command, and 
 under its flag, with unlimited orders. In obedience 
 to your orders I came to Versailles, and was 
 taught to believe, that my intended ship was in 
 
64 THE LIFE 01 
 
 deep water and ready for sea. But when the 
 prince returned I received from him a different 
 account, that the Indian could not be got afloat 
 under three months. To employ this interval 
 usefully, I offered to accompany Comte D'Orvil- 
 liers as a volunteer, which you thought fit to 
 reject. I had then the satisfaction to find, that 
 you approved in general of a variety of hints for 
 private enterprizes which I had given for your 
 consideration, and was flattered with assurances 
 from M. Le Ray de Chaumont and Bodwain, that 
 three of the finest frigates in France, with two 
 tenders, and a number of troops, should be imme- 
 diately put under my command, and I should be 
 at liberty to pursue such of my projects as I 
 thought proper. But this fell to nothing in the 
 moment when I thought that nothing was wanting 
 but the king's signature. Another inferior arma- 
 ment from L'Orient was proposed to be put under 
 my command, which was by no means equal to 
 the services that were expected from it; for 
 speed and force, both requisite, were wanting. 
 Happily for me, this also failed ; and I was saved 
 
PAUL JONES. 65 
 
 from a dreadful prospect of ruin and dishonour. 
 I had so entire a reliance that you would require 
 nothing of me inconsistent with my rank and 
 honour, that the moment you commanded I came 
 down with such haste, that although my curiosity 
 led me to look at the armament at L' Orient, yet 
 I was but three days from Passy till I reached 
 Brest ; here, too, I drew a blank. But when I 
 saw the Lively, it was no disappointment, as that 
 ship, in sailing and equipment, is far inferior to the 
 Ranger. My only disappointment here is being 
 precluded embarking with Count D'Orvilliers in 
 pursuit of marine knowledge. I am not a mere 
 adventurer of fortune. Stimulated by reason 
 and philanthropy, I laid aside the enjoyment of 
 private life, and embarked under the flag of Ame- 
 rica when it was first displayed. In this line my 
 desire of fame is infinite, and I must not so far 
 forget my own honour, and what I owe to my 
 friends and to America, as to remain inactive. 
 My rank knows no superior in the American 
 marine: I have long since been appointed to 
 command an expedition with five of its ships, and 
 
 F 
 
66 THE LIFE Or 
 
 I can receive orders from no junior or inferior 
 officer whatever. I have been here in the most 
 tormenting suspense for more than a month since 
 my return, and agreeable to your desire, as men- 
 tioned to me by M. Roy de Chaumont. A lieutenant 
 has been appointed, and is with me, who speaks 
 French as well as English. Circular letters were 
 sent last month from the English admiralty, be- 
 cause they expected me to pay another visit with 
 four ships ; therefore, I trust, that if the Indian 
 is not to be got out, you will not substitute a force 
 unequal in strength and sailing to the enemy's 
 cruizing ships. I do not wish to interfere with 
 the harmony of the French marine ; but if I am 
 still thought worthy your attention, I shall hope 
 for a separate command, with liberal orders ; if, 
 on the contrary, you have no farther occasion for 
 my services, I have then only to ask the Alert and 
 a few seamen, with permission to return in that 
 small vessel to America before winter." 
 
 " I should not have mentioned my rank," said 
 Jones to Franklin, " had it not been hinted that it 
 
PAUL JONES. G7 
 
 was proposed to send me from St. Maloes under 
 the command of French lieutenants." 
 
 As the conduct of the minister was not satisfac- 
 tory, Jones determined to write to the king him- 
 self. " It cannot, I think, do harm," he writes to 
 Franklin ; " my situation destroys my peace of 
 mind ; I have been, and am in the eyes of Brest 
 and the French marine, considered as having in- 
 curred your displeasure, and being, consequently, 
 in disgrace. 
 
 " The Duchesse de Chartres will, I am per- 
 suaded, undertake to deliver my letter into the 
 king's hands ; and as you may not yet think fit to 
 appear in the business, either the Due de Roche- 
 foucault, or your grandson, will oblige me by wait- 
 ing on her at the Palais Royal. The Due de 
 Rochefoucault, as he understands English well* 
 and is acquainted with the circumstances, would 
 oblige me much if he would be present when the 
 letter is presented to the king. I do not wish to 
 trouble the Due de Chartres about this affair, as 
 that brave prince has undeservedly met with vex- 
 ations of his own." 
 
 f2 
 
68 THE LIFE OF 
 
 The Duchess accordingly delivered the fol- 
 lowing letter: 
 
 His Most Christian Majesty, Louis, 
 King of France and Navarre. 
 
 " Brest, October 19th, 1778. 
 Sire, 
 
 After my return to Brest in the Ame- 
 rican ship of war the Ranger, from the Irish 
 channel, his excellency Dr. Franklin informed me 
 by letter, dated June the 1st, that M. de Sartine, 
 having a good opinion of my conduct and bravery, 
 had determined, with your majesty's consent and 
 approbation, to give me the command of the ship 
 of war the Indian, which was built at Amsterdam 
 for America, but afterwards, for political reasons, 
 made the property of France. 
 
 " I was to act with unlimited orders under the 
 commission and flag of America ; and the Prince 
 de Nassau proposed to accompany me on the 
 ocean. 
 
 " I was deeply penetrated with the sense of 
 
PAUL JONES. 69 
 
 the honour done me by the proposition, as well as 
 of the favour your majesty intended thereby to 
 confer on America. And I accepted the offer 
 with the greater pleasure, as the Congress had 
 sent me to Europe in the Ranger to command 
 the Indian before the ownership of that vessel 
 was changed. 
 
 " The minister desired to see me at Versailles to 
 settle future plans of operation, and I attended 
 him for that purpose. I was told that the Indian 
 was at the Texel completely armed and fitted for 
 sea : but the Prince de Nassau was sent express 
 to Holland, and returned with a very different 
 account. The ship was at Amsterdam, and could 
 not be got afloat or armed before the September 
 equinox. The American plenipotentiaries pro- 
 posed that I should return to America; and as I 
 have repeatedly been appointed to the chief com- 
 mand of an American squadron to execute secret 
 enterprizes, it was not doubted but that Congress 
 would again shew me a preference. M. de Sar- 
 tine, however, thought proper to prevent my de- 
 parture, by writing to the plenipotentiaries, (with- 
 
70 THE LIFE OF 
 
 out my knowledge,) requesting that I might be per- 
 mitted to remain in Europe, and that the Ranger 
 might be sent back to America under another 
 commander, he having special services which he 
 wished me to execute. This request they readily 
 granted, and I was flattered by the prospect of 
 being enabled to testify by my services my grati- 
 tude to your majesty, as the first prince who has 
 so generously acknowledged our independence. 
 
 ff There was an interval of more than three 
 months before the Indian could be gotten afloat. 
 To employ that period usefully, when your 
 majesty's fleet was ordered to sail from Brest, I 
 proposed to the minister to embark in it as a 
 volunteer, in pursuit of marine knowledge. He 
 objected to this, at the same time approved of a 
 variety of hints for private enterprizes, which I 
 had drawn up for his consideration. Two gentle- 
 men were appointed to settle with me the plans 
 that were to be adopted, who gave me the assu- 
 rance that three of the best frigates in France, 
 with two tenders, and a number of troops, should 
 be immediately put under my command, to pursue 
 
PAUL JONES. 71 
 
 such of my own projects as I thought proper; 
 but this fell to nothing, when I believed that your 
 majesty's signature only was wanting. 
 
 " Another armament, composed of cutters and 
 small vessels at L'Orient, was proposed to be put 
 under my command, to alarm the coasts of Eng- 
 land and check the Jersey privateers ; but, hap- 
 pily for me, this also failed, and I was saved from 
 ruin and dishonour; as I now find that all the 
 vessels sailed slow, and their united force is very 
 insignificant. The minister then thought fit that 
 I should return to Brest to command the Lively, 
 and join some frigates on an expedition from St, 
 Malo to the North Sea. I returned in haste for 
 that purpose, and found that the Lively had been 
 bestowed at Brest before the minister had men- 
 tioned that ship to me at Versailles. This was, 
 however, another fortunate disappointment, as the 
 Lively proves, both in sailing and equipment, 
 much inferior to the Ranger. But, more espe- 
 cially, if it be true, as I have since understood, that 
 the minister intended to give the chief command 
 of the expedition to a lieutenant, which would 
 
72 THE LIFE OF 
 
 have occasioned a very disagreeable misunder- 
 standing : for, as an officer of the first rank in the 
 American marine, who has been ever honoured 
 with the favour and friendship of Congress, I can 
 receive orders from no inferior officer whatever. 
 My plan was the destruction of the English 
 Baltic fleet, of great consequence to the enemy's 
 marine, and then only protected by a single 
 frigate ! I would have held myself responsible for 
 its success had I commanded the expedition. 
 
 " M. de Sartine afterwards sent orders to Count 
 D'Orvilliers to receive me on board the fleet, 
 agreeably to my former proposal, but the order 
 did not arrive until after the departure of the 
 fleet the last time from Brest, nor was I made 
 acquainted with the circumstance before the fleet 
 returned here. 
 
 " Thus have I been chained down to shameful 
 inactivity for nearly five months. I have lost the 
 best season of the year and such opportunities of 
 serving my country and acquiring honour as I 
 cannot again expect this war ; and, to my infinite 
 mortification, having no command, I am consi- 
 
PAUL JONES. 73 
 
 dered every where an officer cast off and in dis- 
 grace for secret reasons. 
 
 " I have written respectful letters to the minister, 
 neither of which has he condescended to answer ; 
 I have written to the Prince de Nassau with as 
 little effect ; and I do not understand, that any 
 apology has been made to the great and venerable 
 Dr. Franklin, whom the minister has made the 
 instrument of bringing me into such unmerited 
 trouble. 
 
 " Having written to Congress to reserve no 
 command for me in America, my sensibility is the 
 more affected by this unworthy situation in the 
 sight of your majesty's fleet. I however make no 
 remark on the treatment I have received. 
 
 " Although I wish not to become my own 
 panegyrist, I must beg your majesty's permission 
 to observe, that I am not an adventurer in search 
 of fortune, of which, thank God, I have a suffi- 
 ciency. 
 
 " When the American banner was first dis- 
 played, I drew my sword in support of the vio- 
 lated dignity and rights of human nature, and 
 both honour and duty prompt mc steadfastly to 
 
76 THE LIFE OF 
 
 continue the righteous pursuit; and to sacrifice 
 to it, not only my private enjoyments, but even 
 life, if necessary. I must acknowledge that the 
 generous praise which I have received from Con- 
 gress, and others, exceeds the merit of my past 
 services, therefore I the more ardently wish for 
 future opportunities of testifying my gratitude, by 
 my activity. 
 
 " As your majesty, by espousing the cause of 
 America, hath become the protector of the rights 
 of human nature, I am persuaded that you will 
 not disregard my situation, nor suffer me to re- 
 main any longer in this insupportable disgrace. 
 I am, with perfect gratitude 
 
 and profound respect, 
 Sire, 
 Your majesty's very obliged, 
 very obedient, and 
 
 very humble servant, 
 
 J. Paul Jones," 
 
PAUL JONES. 
 
 75 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The effect of Jones's letter — Appointed to the Duras— A 
 new expedition formed — The grand invasion — Jones ap- 
 pointed to the command of a squadron — Captain Landais 
 — The cruise — Jones attempts Leith — The Baltic fleet — 
 The engagement with the Serapis. 
 
 The admirable appeal of PaulJones to the French 
 monarch produced an instantaneous effect. He 
 himself, after the event, was astounded at his 
 own energy. He writes to his friend, Mr. Morris, 
 " it will appear romance that I have succeeded." 
 
 It was determined that something should be 
 done for Jones immediately, in spite of the French 
 officers, who were " stung to the soul," and could 
 not look upon him " but with rivals' eyes. Their 
 cabals are so high and dangerous, that the mi- 
 nister really cannot, and dare not, do what he 
 wishes." 
 
 Early in the year Jones was appointed to the 
 Duras, of 40 guns, with unlimited orders. He 
 wrote to M. de Sartine, and requested permission 
 
76 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to change the name of his ship to Bon Homme 
 Richard, " as a pleasing opportunity of paying a 
 well-merited compliment to a great and good 
 man, to whom I am under obligations, and who 
 honours me with his friendship/'* 
 
 The request was granted; and Jones was also 
 informed, that it was the intention of government 
 to strengthen his naval force, and to embark in it 
 a body of troops under the command of General 
 La Fayette. " Though this command is not equal 
 to my military rank," writes that officer to Jones, 
 " yet the love of the common cause made me very 
 happy to take it, and this motive is the only one 
 which conducts all my private and public actions." 
 La Fayette was Jones's friend, and he was par- 
 ticularly pleased with the arrangement. The 
 intended squadron was to consist of the Bon 
 Homme Richard, the Pallas, carrying thirty-two 
 S-pounders, and the Vengeance brig of twelve 
 3-pounders. A new American frigate, called the 
 Alliance, was also promised. About 700 military 
 
 "■ The title of the ship referred to " Poor Richard's Alma- 
 nack," published by Dr. Franklin. 
 
PAUL JONES. 77 
 
 were to accompany him. The commander of the 
 Alliance was one Landais. La Fayette did not 
 approve of him, and advised Jones not to let 
 the Alliance carry any of the military, " as there 
 were sure to be disputes between Landais and the 
 officers. " How often must Jones have remem- 
 bered the caution of the Marquess ! 
 
 At the end of April Franklin sent " the instruc- 
 tions" for the expedition to Jones. The venerable 
 plenipotentiary enlarged particularly upon the 
 liberation of the American prisoners. He ad- 
 monishes Jones " to complete the good work you 
 have already made such progress in, of delivering, 
 by an exchange, the rest of your countrymen now 
 languishing in the gaols of Great Britain." 
 
 The instructions are mercifully and moderately 
 penned ; " but," said Franklin of these very in- 
 structions, at a later period, in a letter to Mr. 
 Lovell, " the late proceedings at Fairfield and 
 other towns, added to the preceding, have at 
 length demolished all my moderation, and were 
 such another expedition to be concerted, I think 
 so much of that disposition would not appear." 
 
78 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " Your letter, honoured and dear sir," wrote 
 Jones, " with your liberal and noble-minded 
 instructions, would make a coward brave! You 
 have called up every sentiment of public virtue in 
 my breast, and it shall be my pride and ambition, 
 in the strict pursuit of your instructions, to de~ 
 serve success." 
 
 The great object of this expedition was the 
 sudden landing near all important towns of Great 
 . Britain that were within a reasonable march, and 
 putting them to high ransoms under the threat of 
 burning them. But the object of this expedition 
 was destined to be changed. While Jones was 
 fretting himself at L'Orient about getting cannon, 
 in which he was very unsuccessful, he received a 
 letter from La Fayette — " our plan has been quite 
 altered ; instead of meeting you, I am to take the 
 command of the king's regiment. What will be 
 further determined about your squadron is yet 
 uncertain, and the ministers are to consult about 
 it with Dr. Franklin. Political and military reasons 
 have occasioned this alteration of things" 
 
 This sudden alteration of affairs was occasioned 
 
PAUL JONES. 79 
 
 by a plan more popular than practical with the 
 illustrious house of Bourbon — the general invasion 
 of England. The successful descents of Jones 
 upon the coast with a petty force and unwilling 
 coadjutors, induced them to believe that an orga- 
 nized and general invasion had a great chance of 
 being successful. Such schemes had, previous to 
 the American revolution, generally ended in the 
 building of a few gun-boats, and a little bustle at 
 Toulon. On this occasion it seems, however, to 
 have been seriously adopted, and La Fayette was 
 desired to remain in France in consequence of 
 this resolution. Dr. Franklin, in a confidential 
 letter to Mr. Lovell, calls it the "grand invasion." 
 
 It was, however, agreed that Jones should im- 
 mediately sail with a squadron; and on the 19th 
 of April, 1779, the American squadron, Bon 
 Homme Richard, 42 guns, — Alliance, 36 guns, — 
 Pallas, 30 guns,— Cerf, 18 guns, and the Ven- 
 geance, 12 guns, sailed from L'Orient, under the 
 command of the Honourable Commodore John 
 Paul Jones. 
 
 Three months were passed in a cruize, which 
 
80 THE LIFE OF 
 
 does not appear to have been very successful, 
 Jones found the Bon Homme Richard, as he had 
 expected, a bad sailer : her timbers were so an- 
 cient, that it was deemed impossible to make some 
 alterations which were considered necessary in 
 eonsequence of the injury sustained by the Alli- 
 ance running foul of her in the night, in a manner 
 which appeared to Jones very suspicious. 
 
 At the beginning of August, Jones was again at 
 sea. His object was to make a strong diversion 
 in favour of the grand combined fleets of France 
 and Spain of sixty-six vessels of the line, under 
 the command of Count D'Orvilliers, which had 
 already appeared in the channel between France 
 and England, bearing a French army, which, un- 
 der protection of the fleet, it was intended should 
 make a descent on the southern coast of England. 
 Before the 21st two merchantmen were sent to 
 L'Orient as prizes by the squadron. Before the 
 end of August Captain Landais had ceased to 
 respect any signals, and shortly afterwards as- 
 sumed to act as an independent commander. In 
 the beginning of October the Alliance parted 
 company. The commodore, having taken two 
 
PAUL JONES. 81 
 
 prizes, both from the Firth of Edinburgh, he was 
 informed by them that a king's ship and two or 
 three cutters were lying at anchor in Leith 
 Road " in a state of perfect indolence and secu- 
 rity." Jones immediately determined to surprize 
 them, and put Leith itself to ransom. Unfortu- 
 nately, the Pallas and the Vengeance, the only 
 ships with him, (the Cerf had been dispatched to 
 a particular rendezvous,) were both at a con- 
 siderable distance. Some time was therefore lost 
 before a council could be held, and no little more 
 in persuading the French captains to co-operate. 
 The prospect of obtaining o£'200,000, and Jones's 
 assurance that there was no battery of cannon to 
 oppose them, at length persuaded the French 
 commanders to undertake the venture. " So 
 much time, however," says Jones, " was lost in 
 pointed remarks and sage deliberations, that the 
 wind became contrary in the morning." 
 
 This was an adventure which Jones constantly 
 had remarked could not fail of success. At the 
 present moment, in spite of the delay, he was 
 equally sanguine. The squadron continued, there- 
 
 G 
 
H2 THE LIFE OP 
 
 fore, working to windward up the Firth, without 
 being able to reach the road of Leith till on the 
 morning of the 17th of September, when being 
 almost within cannon shot of the town, and having 
 every thing in readiness for a descent, a violent 
 storm suddenly arose, and the severe gale being 
 directly contrary, obliged them to bear away. 
 One of the prizes sunk. The alarm had now 
 reached Leith, and as there was a large body of 
 troops at Edinburgh the project was obliged to 
 be given up. 
 
 The following day the squadron took three 
 prizes, and the commodore proposed another pro- 
 ject of greater importance to the commander of 
 the Pallas. This was, however, more " honoura- 
 ble than profitable," and the officer demurred. 
 The French captains seem indeed to have been 
 utterly unfit for the service to which they were 
 deputed. Jones's art of naval war was one 
 indeed to which the eighteenth century was ra- 
 ther unaccustomed. Paul Jones should have been 
 the companion of Nelson. 
 
 The captain of the Pallas returned to his ship 
 
PAUL JONES, 83 
 
 in despair. He had no conception, he said, of 
 war being carried on near a coast, where the 
 enemy might always find you with a superior 
 force. The condition of the squadron he declared 
 to be perilous; he proposed that they should 
 return contented with their prizes; and he in- 
 formed M. de Chamillard, in confidence, that 
 unless the commodore joined the next day, both 
 the Pallas and the Vengeance would leave the 
 coast. Jones had nearly determined to try the 
 enterprize alone. " I am persuaded, even now," 
 he said, in his statement to Franklin, " that I 
 would have succeeded ; and, to the honour of my 
 young officers, I found them as ardently disposed 
 to the business as I could desire. Nothing pre- 
 vented me from pursuing my design but the re- 
 proach that would have been cast upon my cha- 
 racter, as a man of prudence, had the enterprize 
 miscarried ; it would have been said, ' was he not 
 forewarned by Captain Cottineau?'" 
 
 There was now every prospect of the American 
 squadron returning to France from an inglorious, 
 though not unprofitable cruize. Jones, however, 
 
 g2 
 
84 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 still hoped that some great action might be ef- 
 fected for the " common cause." The capture of 
 the rich argosie was not the object that haunted 
 the imagination of the American captain. The 
 admiration of France, the applause of America, 
 the respect of England, were the darling subjects 
 of the meditations of this man, whom we have 
 been too long taught to believe to have been but 
 a successful plunderer. " My desire," said Jones, 
 " is to establish my honour and reputation in the 
 page of history." 
 
 With feelings of bitter mortification, on the 
 the 21st of September Jones thought of returning 
 to France with his diminished and inefficient 
 squadron. It was, while agitated with these re- 
 flections that, at day-break on the 22d, while oft* 
 Flamborough Head, he " perceived a fleet steering 
 towards him from the Spurn." Jones imagined 
 them to be a convoy bound from London to Leith, 
 which he had long expected. One of them had 
 a pendant hoisted, and appeared to be a ship of 
 force. The fleet, however, retreated, and the 
 vessel, which apparently was war-armed, kept to 
 
PAUL JONES. 85 
 
 windward very near the land, and on the edge of 
 dangerous shoals. This circumstance induced 
 Jones to make a signal for a pilot. The pilot 
 imagined the Bon Homme to be an English ship 
 of war. They informed the commodore that the 
 ship which wore a pendant was an armed mer- 
 chantman, and that a king's frigate lay then in 
 sight at anchor within the Humber, waiting to 
 take under convoy a fleet of merchantmen to the 
 north. The pilot boat, labouring under the error 
 we have mentioned, also communicated the private 
 signal of the convoy. 
 
 Jones endeavoured to decoy the ships out of 
 port by using the signal, but the tide being unfa- 
 vourable for them they prudently disregarded it. 
 
 The entrance of the Humber is exceedingly 
 difficult and dangerous, and as the Pallas was not 
 in sight, Jones thought it imprudent to remain off 
 the entrance. He therefore stood off again to 
 Flamborough Head, where he expected to join 
 the Pallas. In the night he chased two ships 
 until three o'clock of the morning, when being at 
 a very short distance, he made the private signal 
 
86 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of the American fleet. It was not answered. At 
 day-break the ships proved to be the Pallas and 
 the Alliance ! Such were the discipline and tem- 
 per of the squadron with which Paul Jones in- 
 tended to attack the English convoy under the 
 walls of an English castle ! 
 
 Jones was not unmindful of the infamous con- 
 duct of Landais ; but, though of an impetuous and 
 ardent temperament, he would on no account 
 proceed to extremities with the French captains. 
 The situation of America was so delicate, and she 
 was under such obligations to the French nation, 
 that her officer felt it a duty to endure conduct 
 from its marine which little suited his notions of 
 discipline. " If we quarrel, what will our enemies 
 say V was his frequent exclamation and his con- 
 stant thought. 
 
 On the morning of the 23d a fleet of forty-one 
 sail appeared off Flamborough Head, bearing 
 N.N. E. Jones now called back a pilot boat 
 which he had manned, under the command of a 
 lieutenant, in pursuit of a brigantine, and hoisted 
 the signal for a general chase. When the fleet 
 
PAUL JONES. 87 
 
 discovered the American squadron bearing down, 
 all the merchant ships crowded sail towards the 
 shore. The two ships of war that protected the 
 fleet immediately steered from the land, and made 
 disposition for battle. These ships were the 
 Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough. Jones 
 now crowded every possible sail, and made the 
 signal for the line of battle, to which the Alliance 
 shewed no attention. With all possible exertion 
 Jones could not reach the English commodore's 
 ship until seven in the evening. 
 
 And now commenced an engagement, the pa- 
 rallel of which is not to be found in the naval 
 annals of any nation. 
 
 The Serapis, 44 guns, was one of the finest 
 frigates in his Majesty's navy, and had been oft* 
 the stocks only a few months. Her crew were 
 picked men, and she was commanded by Captain 
 Richard Pearson, an officer celebrated even in the 
 British navy for his undaunted courage and ex- 
 emplary conduct. The Bon Homme Richard 
 was an old ship with decayed timbers, and had 
 made four voyages to the East Indies. Many of 
 
88 the life oi- 
 
 lier guns Mere useless, and all were ancient. — 
 Her crew consisted partly of Americans, partly of 
 French, partly of English, and partly of Maltese, 
 Portugueze and Malays; and this crew was weak 
 also in numbers, for two boats' crews had been 
 lost on the coast of Ireland ; and to add to accu- 
 mulated misfortunes, Jones's first lieutenant and 
 eighteen men in the pilot boat did not join the 
 Bon Homme Richard in time for battle. 
 
 Before the engagement commenced, there 
 was not a man in the Bon Homme Richard who 
 was ignorant of the superiority of the Serapis, 
 both in metal and in men. The Portugueze and 
 the other foreigners could speak neither French nor 
 English, and, chattering in their native tongues, 
 without ceasing, added not a little to the difficul- 
 ties which presented themselves. The American 
 commander had nothing to trust to but his own 
 undaunted courage and extraordinary skill. 
 
 The position of the Bon Homme being to wind- 
 ward of the Serapis, the Bon Homme passed 
 a-head of her, and the Serapis came up on the 
 larboard quarter of the American. 
 
PAUL JONES. 89 
 
 The action commenced abreast of each other, 
 and the broadsides were almost simultaneous. The 
 Serapis, however, passed a-head of the Bon 
 Homme with the intention of gaining distance 
 sufficient to rake, bu. this manoeuvre failed, from 
 want of distance; and to avoid being boarded 
 by the Bon Homme, Captain Pearson sent his 
 helm a-lee. This movement brought the two 
 ships in a line, and the Bon Homme ran her 
 bows into the stern of the Serapis. The English 
 now hailed the Bon Homme, to know whether 
 they had struck. Jones himself answered, "that 
 he had not yet begun to fight." But the truth 
 was, that the broadsides of the Serapis had al- 
 ready produced an effect. The Bon Homme, be- 
 fore eight o'clock, had received several eighteen- 
 pounders under water, and leaked very much. 
 Jones received no assistance from his squadron : 
 the Pallas was engaged with the Countess of 
 Scarborough, the Vengeance held off at a dis- 
 tance, and the Alliance declined interfering alto- 
 gether. The position in which the two contending 
 
DO THE LIFE OF 
 
 frigates were now placed was most favourable to 
 Jones, for not a gun could take effect on either 
 side, and he thus gained some moments for con- 
 sideration, which the American commander stood 
 much in need of. Besides her superior force, he 
 had already perceived, that the English was the 
 much more manageable ship of the two. The 
 Bon Homme now backed her top-sails, and those 
 of the Serapis being filled, the ships separated. 
 The bowsprit of the Serapis now came over the 
 Bon Homme's poop by the mizen mast. Jones 
 darted like a cat upon his prey and immediately 
 grappled. The action of the wind on the enemy's 
 sails forced her stern close to the Bon Homme's 
 bow, " so that the ships lay square alongside of 
 each other, the yards being all entangled, and 
 the cannon of each ship touching the opponent's 
 side." This was a bold way of saving a sinking 
 ship and preventing the effect of eighteen pound- 
 ers under water ! 
 
 " The battle," to use Jones's own words, was 
 fought with unremitting fury." The rammers 
 were run into the respective ships to enable the 
 
PAUL JONES. 91 
 
 men to load. The Serapis now fought with the 
 actual view of sinking the enemy, and her broadsides 
 were incessant. The battery of twelve pounders, 
 on which Jones had placed his chief dependance, 
 which was commanded by his only lieutenant, 
 and manned by Americans, was entirely silenced 
 and abandoned ; of the six old eighteen pounders 
 that formed the battery of the lower gun deck, 
 most burst, and killed almost all the men who 
 were stationed to manage them. At the same 
 time, Colonel Chamillard, who commanded a 
 party of twenty French volunteers on the poop, 
 abandoned his station, after having lost nearly all 
 his band. There were only two nine pounders on 
 the quarter deck, that were not silenced. The pur- 
 ser, who commanded the party that worked these 
 guns, was shot through the head ; and Jones, in 
 this critical moment, when he almost required the 
 faculty of ubiquity, was obliged to fill the purser's 
 place. With great difficulty he rallied a few men, 
 and shifted over one of the lee quarter deck guns ; 
 these three nine pounders played well, but not one 
 
1)2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of the heavier cannon of the Bon Homme was 
 fired during the rest of the action. 
 
 During this hot work the American commander 
 was fully convinced that sooner or later his ship must 
 sink, yet Commodore Dale, one of the most emi- 
 nent of the American officers now living, and who 
 was Jones's first lieutenant during the engagement, 
 says, that Jones never once flinched during the 
 whole conflict ; and that even during the greater 
 horrors which are to follow, " nothing could de- 
 press his ardour, or change his determination.'' 
 
 Jones, however, had well lined his tops, and 
 these seconded the exertions of his little battery. 
 He directed the fire of one of the three cannons 
 against the mainmast of the Serapis with double- 
 headed shot, while the two other were equally 
 well served with grape and cannister to silence 
 the enemy's musketry and clear her decks. The 
 fire from the tops of the Bon Homme was con- 
 ducted with such skill and effect, that, ultimately, 
 every man who appeared on the deck of the 
 Serapis was immediately disposed of. Captain 
 
PAUL JONES. 93 
 
 Pearson then ordered the survivors to keep 
 below. Here they were not more secure. The 
 powder monkies of the Serapis finding no officer 
 to receive the eighteen pound cartridges, which 
 it was their duty to supply, threw them on the 
 main deck and then went off for more. These car- 
 tridges being scattered along the deck, and many 
 of them being broken, it so happened, that some 
 of the hand grenades thrown from the fore-yard 
 of the Bon Homme, which was directly over the 
 main hatch of the Serapis, fell upon this powder 
 and produced a most awful explosion. The effect 
 was terrific; more than twenty of the English 
 were blown to pieces. Pearson, as he afterwards 
 acknowleged, was now on the point of surrender- 
 ing, when the cowardice of three of the under 
 officers of the Bon Homme induced them to call 
 out " quarter !" The English commander per- 
 sonally demanded of Jones whether he surren- 
 dered ; the American commander personally an- 
 swered in the most decided negative. 
 
 The action now commenced with redoubled 
 fury ; Jones still succeeded in keeping the enemy's 
 
94 THE LIFE OF 
 
 deck clear ; but the fire of their cannon, especi- 
 ally of the lower battery which was formed of 
 eighteen pounders, was incessant. Both ships 
 were now on fire in several places. The Bon 
 Homme was several times under the necessity of 
 suspending the combat to extinguish the flames, 
 which were often within a few inches of the ma- 
 gazine. The water also gained upon them. " I 
 had two enemies to contend with," said Jones, 
 " besides the English, — fire and water!" 
 
 At this moment the Alliance appeared, and 
 Jones now thought the battle was at an end ; but, 
 to his utter astonishment, Landais discharged a 
 broadside full into the stern of the Bon Homme. 
 The crew cried to him, " for God's sake to for- 
 bear firing into the Bon Homme Richard," but 
 Landais passed along the offside of the ship, and 
 continued his firing. There was no possibility of 
 his mistaking the Bon Homme for the Serapis, 
 for there was the most essential difference in 
 their appearance and construction ; it was full 
 moonlight too, and the sides of the American 
 were all black and of the Serapis yellow. For 
 
PAUL JONES. 95 
 
 greater security, Jones gave the signal of recon- 
 noissance, but nothing availed: the Alliance passed 
 round, firing into her commodore's ship's head, 
 stern, and broadside, and by one of her vollies 
 killed several men and wounded a valuable officer. 
 " My situation," say Jones, was now really deplo- 
 rable." 
 
 The Alliance at last sailed off; not, however, 
 without giving the Bon Homme several shots 
 under water. This was perfect destruction. The 
 leak gained ground on the pumps, and the fire 
 increased so much on board both ships, that some 
 officers advised Jones to strike, "of whose courage 
 and good sense he entertained the highest opi- 
 nion. 
 
 It was a grand scene that the Channel witnessed 
 that night. A numerous fleet had taken refuge 
 under the walls of Scarborough castle ; the Bon 
 Homme and Serapis, joined in an encounter al- 
 most unparalleled for its fierceness and duration, 
 finely contrasted with the picturesque and 
 shattered appearance of the Pallas and the 
 Countess of Scarborough, now both silenced ; and 
 
9G THE LIFE OF 
 
 the moon, which was extremely bright and full, 
 lighted up, not only this magnificent scene, but 
 Flamborough Head, and the surrounding heights 
 covered with the inhabitants of all the neighbour- 
 ing towns. 
 
 While the American commodore appeared to 
 be hesitating, whether he should follow the advice 
 of his officers, his master at arms, who was 
 frightened out of his wits, suddenly let loose all 
 the prisoners, amounting to nearly five hundred, 
 telling them, " to save themselves as the ship was 
 going to sink." 
 
 This last misfortune seemed to be decisive. 
 One prisoner jumped over to the enemy, and told 
 them, that if they held out a moment longer the 
 enemy must strike. " Our rudder," says Jones, 
 in his letter to Franklin, was entirely off; the 
 stern-frame, and transoms were almost entirely 
 cut away; the timbers by the lower deck, especially 
 from the mainmast to the stern, being greatly 
 decayed by age, were mangled beyond every 
 power of description; and a person must have 
 been an eye-witness, to have formed a just idea, 
 
PAUL JONES. 97 
 
 of the tremendous scene of carnage, wreck and 
 ruin that every where appeared." Yet, notwith- 
 standing this state, — notwithstanding that the 
 prisoners were loose, — that the ship was on fire in 
 many places, and that there was five feet of water 
 in the hold, Jones determined to fight on. He 
 observed what his affrightened crew had over- 
 looked — he saw the mainmast of the Serapis 
 shake, and his practised ear told him, that " their 
 firing decreased." He took care that his own 
 should immediately increase; and at half past ten, 
 in the sight of thousands, the flag of England, 
 which had been nailed to the mast of the Serapis, 
 was struck by Captain Pearson's own hand. Her 
 mainmast at the same time went overboard. 
 
 Had Napoleon commanded the British frigate, 
 he would have said, that he " ought to have won." 
 Very probably the brave English captain thought 
 the same. 
 
 Before any thing, except the wounded, could 
 be removed, the Bon Homme Richard sank. The 
 Countess of Scarborough had previously struck 
 to the Pallas. 
 
 n 
 
98 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Jones arrives in the Texel — The anger of the English court — 
 Their remonstrance — Their squadrons — Jones's secret cor- 
 respondence with the Dutch government — His prisoners — 
 J lis plans — Offer of a French commission — His answer — 
 His critical situation — An escape. 
 
 The result of the terrible contest with the Serapis 
 filled all Europe and America with the renown of 
 Paul Jones. The court of Versailles was in a 
 rapture ; the court of London in a rage. The 
 national pride was wounded to the quick, at find- 
 ing the finest frigate of the English navy captured 
 close to the English shores, and in the sight of 
 assembled thousands. But the effect which was 
 produced on the public mind of England, will be 
 better understood, if we recur to some of the 
 newspapers and journals of the day. 
 
 London, 27th Sept. 1779. 
 
 " A letter from Sunderland, dated 20th 
 
 September, says, that an express arrived there 
 
 on the 6th from Aymouth, with information that 
 
PAUL JONES. 99 
 
 Paul Jones was oft* there with five sail of ships 
 of war, 2000 troops on board; that, on the 19th, 
 they appeared off Sunderland, and came up within 
 two miles, which put the inhabitants into great 
 confusion, as they expected them to land every 
 hour, or destroy the ships in the harbour." 
 
 Extract of a letter from Stockton, September 21. 
 
 " The undermentioned ships have ap- 
 peared off this place under the command of Paul 
 Jones : we have sent the bearers to inform all light 
 colliers they may meet with to take harbour as 
 soon as possible, and there to remain till they 
 receive advice of their being off the coast. 
 
 " On Saturday noon, two gentlemen of the cor- 
 poration of Hull arrived express at the Admiralty, 
 with the alarming account, that the celebrated 
 American Corsair Paul Jones had entered the 
 river Humber on Thursday last, and chased a 
 vessel to within a mile of the pier, when he sunk, 
 burnt and destroyed, sixteen sail of valuable 
 vessels, which threw the whole town and neigh- 
 bourhood into the utmost consternation. He had 
 
 h 2 
 
100 THE LIFE OF 
 
 taken nine or ten colliers, and other vessels a day 
 or two before he appeared at Hull. The follow- 
 ing is the force of Jones's squadron. 
 
 A Boston built frigate with 40 guns upon one 
 deck (Jones's ship). 
 
 A French ship (an old Indiaman) of 44 guns. 
 
 Two American frigates of 32 guns each, new. 
 
 One 20 gun frigate. 
 
 Two brigantines of 18 guns each. 
 
 Two small tenders. 
 
 " On Saturday night another express arrived at 
 the Admiralty from Hull, with the further dis- 
 agreeable intelligence, that Paul Jones's squadron, 
 after having done more mischief in the shipping 
 on Friday, had fallen in with the Baltic fleet, and 
 had taken their convoy, the Serapis man-of-war, 
 of 44 guns, Captain Pearson, and the armed ship 
 the Countess of Scarborough, Captain Piercy, of 
 24 guns. This action was seen by thousands of 
 spectators ; the other ships of Jones's squadron 
 were making havoc among the fleet, most of which, 
 however, had taken shelter near Flamborough- 
 head. 
 
PAUL JONES. 101 
 
 " From four captured Americans, it was dis- 
 covered, that it was Jones's plan to alarm the 
 coasts of Wales, Ireland, the western parts of Scot- 
 land and the North Channel. Jones took several 
 prizes on the coast of Ireland (particularly two 
 armed transports with stores for New York), in 
 the North sea, and near the Frith of Forth, and 
 had it in his power to have burnt Leith, but his 
 orders are only to burn shipping ; the squadron is 
 now but weakly manned, owing to the great num- 
 ber of prizes he has taken, and it therefore may 
 fall an easy conquest to the sixteen sail of men-of- 
 war who have orders to go after him. 
 
 " The Serapis man-of-war lost her main-mast, 
 bowsprit, and mizen topmast before she struck ; 
 and the Captain of the Scarborough made an 
 exceeding good defence against one of the 32 
 gun frigates : the enemy's 44 gun ship was not in 
 the action, and the Serapis struck to Jones's ship 
 and the 32 gun frigate. 
 
 " Expresses also arrived on Saturday from Sun- 
 derland, stating, that Paul Jones had taken six- 
 teen sail more of colliers. In consequence of the 
 
lOii THE LIFE OF 
 
 capture of so many colliers, and the interruption 
 of the trade, the price of coals will be enormous. 
 Instead of having the dominion of the sea, it is 
 now evident, that we are not able to defend our 
 own coast from depredation. 
 
 " The master of a sloop from Harwich, who 
 arrived yesterday, saw, on Saturday last, no less 
 than eleven sail of men-of-war going in search of 
 Paul Jones, and among them was the Edgar, of 
 74 guns. By the examination of the four men 
 belonging to one of Paul Jones's squadron, it 
 appears, that Jones's orders were not to burn any 
 houses or towns, — what an example of honour and 
 greatness does America thus show to us ! While 
 our troops are running about from town to town 
 on their coast, and burning every thing with 
 wanton, wicked barbarity, Dr. Franklin gives no 
 orders to retaliate, he is above it ; and there was 
 a time when an English minister was above it, 
 when an English minister would have disdained 
 to make war in so villanous a mode. It is a dis- 
 grace to the nation. Paul Jones could have 
 jmrned Leith the other day with the greatest 
 
PAUL JONES. 10.} 
 
 ease, and another little town near it. Yesterday, 
 Lord Sandwich informed some Russian merchants 
 who waited on him, that twenty of his Majesty's 
 ships were sent in quest of Paul Jones." 
 
 * London, Sept. 28. — Captain Pearson, who 
 commands the Serapis of 44 guns, which was 
 taken by Paul Jones, was appointed to the Endy- 
 mion of 44 guns, lately launched at Limehouse and 
 fitting there for sea, and was coming from off his 
 station in the North sea to go on board of her." 
 
 But where was the victor ? In scarcely a better 
 situation than when the treacherous Captain Lan- 
 dais saluted him with some eighteen pounders 
 under water. 
 
 After having been tossed about for some time 
 by contrary winds, failing in gaining Dunkirk, 
 Jones arrived at the Texel, October 3d. This 
 is an island of Holland with a good harbour, and 
 the usual station of the Dutch navy. The one 
 half of the crew, as well of the Bon Homme 
 Richard as of the Serapis, having been killed or 
 wounded, the Commodore addressed himself to 
 
104 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the States General for permission to establish a 
 hospital at the Helder for the wounded. The 
 magistracy of the place, however, opposed this 
 request, and the States then assigned for the 
 desired purpose the fort of the Texel, with per- 
 mission to Jones himself to garrison the port. 
 For this purpose, he was presented with a com- 
 mission as commandant of the Texel. 
 
 But ere the wounded crews had possessed 
 themselves of the refuge so hospitally offered, 
 Sir Joseph Yorke, the English ambassador at the 
 Hague, came thundering down to reclaim peremp- 
 torily from their High Mightinesses the restitution 
 of the English ships, and the delivery unto the 
 king, his master, " of a certain Paul Jones, a 
 subject of the king, who, according to treaties and 
 the laws of war, could only be considered as a 
 rebel and a pirate." 
 
 But their High Mightinesses answered and said, 
 " that they would in no respect, whatever, pre- 
 tend to judge of the legality or illegality of the 
 actions of those who had, upon the open sea, 
 taken any vessels which did not belong to Holland, 
 and brought them into the ports of the republic." 
 
PAUL JONES. 105 
 
 In short, their High Mightinesses declined inter- 
 ference. But the infuriated Sir Joseph launched 
 out another memorial, and not content with again 
 stigmatizing the conqueror of the Serapis as a 
 pirate, a rebel, and a criminal of state, his Ex- 
 cellency talked also of the smallest deviation from 
 the sacred rules of the law of nations, weaken- 
 ing the friendship of neighbours, and " producing 
 serious consequences." 
 
 The answer of the States to this memorial, was 
 similar in its effect, but terser in its wording. 
 But the English cabinet thirsted for blood ; light 
 squadrons of English men-of-war were dispatched 
 from all quarters to intercept the American Com- 
 modore. Two of these squadrons, cruized con- 
 tinually in sight of the Texel and off the Ulie, 
 whilst the others were stationed in such a manner 
 as to cause a general belief, that it would be im- 
 possible for Jones to escape. The combined 
 fleet of France and Spain had, moreover, returned 
 to Brest, and the energy of Great Britain, and 
 the attention of all Europe, were concentrated on 
 the little squadron at the Texel. 
 
106 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Down again came Sir Joseph ! He was 
 desired once more by his majesty of England, 
 to " renew, in the strongest and most pressing 
 manner," his former request. 
 
 Their High Mightinesses were informed, that 
 " the king would think he derogated from his 
 dignity as well as that of their own, were he to 
 enter into the particulars of a case so notorious 
 as the one in question, or to set before the eyes 
 of the ancient friends and allies of his crown 
 analogous examples of other princes and states, he 
 would only remark, that all the placards, even of 
 their High Mightinesses, require that all the cap- 
 tains of foreign armed vessels shall, upon their 
 arrival, present their letters of marque or com- 
 mission, and authorize, according to the custom 
 of admiralties, to treat all those as pirates whose 
 letters are found to be illegal, for want of being 
 granted by a sorereign power." " Aye, there's 
 the rub!" " The eyes of all Europe are fixed 
 upon your resolution," added, the representative 
 of enraged majesty. 
 
 The conduct of Paul Jones, while these plans 
 
PAUL JONES. 107 
 
 m 
 
 for bis annihilation were so actively pursued, pre- 
 sents one of the most extraordinary instances of cool 
 courage and mental governance to be found almost 
 in the history of man. To the world he appeared 
 busily employed in refitting his squadron, securing 
 his prisoners, administering to the wants of his 
 wounded, and arranging the business of Landais; 
 to his friends whose anxiety for his situation they 
 did not attempt to conceal from him, he affected 
 an unusual and reckless gaiety, writing to them 
 humorous letters, and scribbling not indifferent 
 verses ; but during all this period, Jones Was suc- 
 cessfully intriguing with the Dutch government, 
 to induce them to declare war against Great 
 Britain and join the " common cause." 
 
 Dumas, the American commissioner at the 
 Hague, writes to him in October " The follow- 
 ing, dear sir, is the abstract of a letter from- the 
 great man at the Hague. ' The States of Holland 
 have unanimously adopted the advice of the Ad- 
 miralty, which is in perfect conformity with that 
 of the particular College of Amsterdam, of which 
 -you have been informed. In all probability the 
 
108 THE LIFE OF 
 
 resolution of the province will be confirmed on 
 Monday, by that of the States General, and the 
 answer, highly satisfactory to the Congress, trans- 
 mitted to M. Yorke. I learn with great pleasure 
 that M. Jones has received orders which are 
 agreeable to him, relative to Captain Landais. 
 After having read," continues JNI. Dumas, " the 
 copy of your letter to his Excellency Dr. Frank- 
 lin, of the 3d October, intended for M. de Ca- 
 pelle, I think it highly improper to be sent to the 
 gentleman. I think I must also tell you, my dear 
 sir, that I am not in any connexion with this gen- 
 tleman respecting America, and that nobody has 
 the secret of my negotiations here, except two 
 great men, with whom this gentleman is not inti- 
 mate. He is a very good republican, but by his 
 circumstances he cannot do any good towards an 
 alliance between the two republics. He is a well 
 thinking private, but that's all, being excluded 
 from any share of the government of his country. 
 This between us." 
 
 The great man at the Hague, was the Grand 
 Pensionary of Holland, M. van Berckel. M. de 
 
PAUL JONES. 109 
 
 Capelle, or Vander Capellen, to use his Dutch 
 name, was a member of the House of Nobles of 
 one of the provinces. He appears to have been 
 a good meaning man, and, desirous of counteract- 
 ing the mischief which the mistatements of the 
 opposition or the Orange party were making re- 
 specting Jones in his province, had written to the 
 American commander, among other things, for an 
 authentic narrative " of a sea fight, rather to be 
 found in the book of the former century, than the 
 present age." He was " an old and tried friend of 
 America, " and he hoped that Jones would pardon 
 on that account the liberty he took. But the diplo- 
 matic M. Dumas, had determined that M. Vander 
 Capellen, or M. La Capelle as he civilized the name 
 in the full spirit of Parisian refinement, was 
 not to be in the secret, and so the worthy luminary 
 of the province of Overyssel, (the very name 
 would have frightened M. Dumas!) was left in 
 as obscure a state as ever. Jones, however, sent 
 the baron some documents, and acknowledged his 
 kind interest in a very courteous manner. 
 
 " Human nature and America are under a very 
 
110 THE LIFE OF 
 
 singular obligation to your Lordship, for your 
 
 friendship and your patriotism, and I feel every 
 grateful sentiment for your generous and polite 
 letter." " From what I have sent," added 
 Jones, u you will see that I have already been 
 praised more than I deserved. But I must at 
 the same time beg leave to observe, that, by the 
 other papers which I take the liberty to en- 
 close, (particularly the copy of my letter to the 
 Countess of Selkirk, dated on the day of my 
 arrival at Brest from the Irish sea,) I hope you 
 will be convinced that in the British prints 1 have 
 been censured unjustly. I was indeed born in 
 Britain, but I do not inherit the degenerate spirit 
 of some who belong to that nation, which I at 
 once lament and despise. It is far beneath me to 
 reply to their hireling invectives. They are 
 strangers to the inward approbation that greatly 
 animates and rewards the man, who draws his 
 sword only in the support and dignity of freedom. 
 America has been the country of my fond election 
 from the age of thirteen, when I first saw it. I 
 had the honour to hoist with my own hands the 
 
PAUL JONES. I I 1 
 
 flag of freedom, the first time it was displayed on 
 the Delaware, and I have attended it with venera- 
 tion ever since on the Ocean, I see it respected 
 here in spite of the pitiful Sir Joseph, and 
 I ardently wish and hope to exchange a 
 salute with the flag of this Republic. Let but 
 the two republics join hands, and they give peace 
 to the world." M. Dumas would have hardly 
 approved this last hint, to the " well thinking pri- 
 vate, but that's all." 
 
 The States General kept firm in spite of the last 
 remonstrance. " The ticklish and uncertain 
 situation of the policies of this country," writes 
 Jones to M. de Chaumont, " as affecting the flag 
 . of America, has hitherto so much occupied my at- 
 tention, that I have found little leisure to write. 
 My fears in that respect being now entirely re- 
 moved, by an unanimous resolution of the States 
 General, that is far more favourable to our cause 
 than I had reason to expect, I now employ this 
 breathing space, to assure you of my regard and 
 affection." 
 
 Jones, then notices some little misunderstand- 
 
1 12 THE LIFE OF 
 
 innr which had existed between himself and M. 
 de Chaumont's father. It appears that the old 
 gentleman, who was a naval commissary, and was 
 occasionally entrusted by De Sartine with a state 
 secret, had incautiously played the great man on 
 his return from Paris, and distilled to his country 
 friends, rather too many drops of intelligence 
 from the minister's confidential communication. 
 One of Jones's best plans was baulked by this 
 indiscretion. " I earnestly wish your father to 
 give to oblivion the past misunderstanding. I 
 am persuaded that he will now see the impro- 
 priety of communicating too early, and no longer 
 blame me for avoiding free conversations on such 
 subjects. It is not indeed my characteristic to be 
 full of ivords. My heart, however, is no stranger 
 to the sentiments and duties of friendship, though 
 my situation as the servant of the public, leaves 
 me without the power of obliging my private 
 friends, except in the pleasure which I am per- 
 suaded they take, in hearing of my success when 
 they have furnished me with the means. 
 
 " It affords me great pleasure to assure you, 
 
PAUL JONES. 113 
 
 that I cannot too much praise the gallant beha- 
 viour of the young volunteer, Baptiste Trevallier, 
 whom you sent to L'Orient. In the engagement, 
 a sailor called for a wad in loading one of the 
 great guns ; he furnished him immediately by 
 substituting his coat which he then wore, and 
 soon afterwards, when the Bon Homme Richard 
 was on fire, he instantly took off his shirt, and 
 dipped it in water, and applied it with great 
 dexterity to smother the flames." 
 
 Jones was highly delighted at the firm con- 
 duct of the States. " I am happy, my dear sir," 
 he writes to his old friend Bancroft, " in being 
 able to assure you, that in spite of that little 
 thing, Sir Joseph, the flag of freedom is highly 
 respected indeed at the Texel. I had yesterday 
 the honour to receive authority, by an unanimous 
 resolution of the States, and by an order of the 
 Prince of Orange, to land as many prisoners as I 
 please, to place centinels to guard them on the 
 Texel, to haul up the drawbridge of that fort, 
 and to take them away from thence, whenever I 
 think proper, and dispose of them afterwards, as 
 
 i 
 
i I 1 THE LIFE OF 
 
 though they had never been landed. Huzza, 
 America!" 
 
 These prisoners were Jones's great pride. 
 Early in life his feelings had been excited by the 
 description of the sufferings of his countrymen, 
 who were imprisoned in the mother country. 
 His objects in removing the war to Europe were 
 mainly to retaliate on the English, for the scenes 
 of havoc which he had witnessed in " the country 
 of his fond election," and to deliver the imprisoned 
 Americans from their dungeons. On his arrival 
 in France intent upon this grand purpose, Jones 
 met with a congenial spirit in the most illustrious 
 of the American commissioners. Franklin, that 
 mighty master of the human mind, soon dived 
 into the innermost recesses of Jones's soul. He 
 was struck with his daring courage, his manly 
 frankness, and his enthusiastic sentiments. He 
 perceived him bold in purpose, systematic in con- 
 ception, and firm in execution. The wily politi- 
 cian smiled at the chivalric and romantic senti- 
 ments of his youthful friend; but the practical 
 philosopher felt, that to perform extraordinary 
 
PAUL JONES. 115 
 
 actions, a man must often entertain extraordinary 
 sentiments, and that in the busiest scenes of hu- 
 man life, enthusiasm is not always vain, nor ro- 
 mance always a fable. 
 
 To go on in the great work in which he had 
 so succeeded:" " to deliver his suffering country- 
 men from the cells and dungeons of Great Bri- 
 tain," were the constant admonitions of the Ame- 
 rican commissioner. Praise from such a man as 
 Franklin was as valued as it was unusual. What 
 effect would it not have upon an ardent and 
 sanguine temperament, upon a young man of 
 strong and overbounding passions, the architect 
 of his own fortune — without friends or relatives, 
 or almost country. To be immediately received 
 into the confidence of one of the most leading- 
 characters of the age ; to find himself suddenly 
 addressed in the language of the warmest affec- 
 tion by one to whom he could only look up for 
 the dull routine of diplomatic civilities, produced 
 an effect upon Jones's mind which, to the last 
 hour of his existence, he gloried in remem- 
 
 bering. 
 
 i2 
 
11G THE LIFE OF 
 
 How can we describe his sensations when, on 
 arriving in the Texel, he found that the number 
 of his prisoners exceeded that of the Americans 
 remaining imprisoned. Franklin writes to him, 
 " I am uneasy about your prisoners, and wish they 
 were safe in France ; you will then have completed 
 the glorious work of giving liberty to all the 
 Americans that have so long languished for it in 
 the British prisons, for there are not so many 
 there as you have now taken." 
 
 " It is the greatest triumph," said Jones to M. 
 de Chaumont, when writing upon this subject, 
 " it is the greatest triumph which a good man can 
 boast — a thousand times more flattering to me 
 than victory." 
 
 Franklin's uneasiness about the prisoners was 
 not unfounded. Jones writes to the Due de 
 Vauguyon, the French ambassador at the Hague, 
 on this subject. " I would esteem it a particular 
 favour to have your opinion on the measures that 
 are most expedient to be adopted in this respect. 
 Whether it would be consistent to set them at 
 liberty here upon such security as maybe obtained, 
 
PAUL JONES. 117 
 
 that the English government will immediately ex- 
 pedite an equal number of Americans to France ; 
 for, unless such security as may be fully de- 
 pended upon can be obtained, I think these pri- 
 soners must be sent immediately to Dunkirk?" 
 
 " As I am informed," he writes to Franklin, 
 ." that Captain Cunningham is threatened with un- 
 fair play by the British government, I am deter- 
 mined to keep in my hands the Captain of the 
 Serapis as an hostage for Cunningham's release as 
 a prisoner of war. With respect to the other 
 prisoners in my hands, if the English ambassador, 
 Sir Joseph Yorke, will give us security in his 
 public character, that an equal number and deno- 
 mination of Americans shall be sent to France im- 
 mediately, I believe it will be good policy to set 
 them at liberty here ; and I shall endeavour indi- 
 rectly to inform myself immediately how that 
 matter can be managed. 
 
 " I wish heartily that poor Cunningham (whom 
 I am taught to regard as a continental officer) 
 were exchanged ; as, with his assistance, I could 
 form a court martial, which, I believe, you will 
 
1 18 THE LIFE OF 
 
 see unavoidable." But Sir Joseph Yorke was 
 now thundering with his memorials, and would 
 not listen to " Scotch pirates and rebels," even 
 when the lives of his wounded countrymen were 
 at stake. 
 
 The late commander of the Serapis soon after 
 wrote to Jones on the enlargement of himself and 
 men. The letter was sufficiently haughty, and 
 very ill spelt ; and certainly had not his naval 
 conduct been more generally correct than his 
 grammar, Captain Pearson would have been 
 dismissed his Majesty's service long before he met 
 the Bon Homme Richard. 
 
 " As you have not been prevented from corre- 
 sponding with your friends," answered Jones, " and 
 particularly with the English ambassador at the 
 Hague, I could not suppose you to be unacquainted 
 with his memorial of the 8th to the States Gene- 
 ral ; and, therefore, I thought it fruitless to pursue 
 the negotiation for the exchange of the prisoners 
 of war now in our hands. 
 
 " I wished to avoid any painful altercation with 
 you on that subject : I was persuaded, that you 
 
PAUL JONES. 1 11) 
 
 had been in the highest degree sensible that my 
 behaviour towards you had been far from ■ a 
 breach of civility? This charge, sir, is not a 
 civil return for the polite hospitality and disinte- 
 rested attentions which you have hitherto expe- 
 rienced. 
 
 " I know not what difference of respect is due 
 to ' rank' between your service and ours ; I sup- 
 pose, however, the difference must be thought 
 very great in England, since I am informed that 
 Captain Cunningham, of equal denomination, and 
 who has been a senior rank in the service of Ame- 
 rica, than yours in the service of England, is now 
 confined at Plymouth, in a dungeon and in fetters. 
 Humanity, which has hitherto superseded the 
 plea of retaliation in American hearts, has induced 
 me (notwithstanding the procedure of Sir Joseph 
 Yorke,) to seek permission to land the dangerously 
 wounded, as well prisoners as Americans, to be 
 supported and cured at the expense of our Conti- 
 nent. The permission of the government has 
 been obtained ; but the magistrates continue to 
 make objections. I shall not discontinue my 
 
120 THE LIFE OF 
 
 application ; I am ready to adopt any means that 
 you may propose for their preservation and reco- 
 very ; and, in the mean time, we shall continue to 
 treat them with the utmost care and attention, 
 equally, as you know, to the treatment of our own 
 people of the same rank. 
 
 " As it is possible that you have not yet seen 
 the memorial of your ambassador to the States 
 General, I enclose a paper which contains a copy, 
 and I believe he has since written what, in the 
 opinion of good men, will do still less honour to 
 his pen. 
 
 " I cannot conclude without informing you, that 
 unless Captain Cunningham is immediately better 
 treated in England, I expect orders in conse- 
 quence from his excellency Dr. Franklin ; there- 
 fore, I beseech you, sir, interfere." 
 
 Overwhelmed as Jones nearly was with the 
 most important business, he was still doomed to 
 be troubled by Captain Landais. This worthy 
 was swaggering about the Hague, affecting a per- 
 fect independence of Jones, and swearing that he, 
 Landais, was one of the most injured beings that 
 
PAUL JONES. 121 
 
 ever yet breathed. Jones treated this man with 
 the most supreme contempt ; and he was wrong. 
 He knew Landais to be a weak and inefficient 
 creature, but he forgot that these very things are 
 the fittest tools for a faction. Jones had been 
 advised by all his officers to put Landais under 
 arrest after the battle ; but he refused, because it 
 would make him of too much importance. When 
 M. de Chaumont remonstrated with him on his . 
 lenity, and urged his immediate punishment ; " It 
 must be his punishment," answered Jones, " to be 
 informed, as he will be by his excellency Dr. 
 Franklin, that I have always written in his favour ; 
 and, you well know, that I took every possible 
 pains to establish him in that command, and to 
 gain back to him the confidence of his people, 
 which, when he first came to serve under my 
 orders, he had entirely lost." This was very 
 noble, but not very wise conduct. Landais was 
 not exactly the being to be affected by such in- 
 formation,— he was not what Paul Jones would call 
 " a man of sensibility." 
 
 Landais conduct was, however, properly re- 
 
\22 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ported in the official report. " I received the 
 account of your cruize and engagement with the 
 Serapis," writes Franklin, " which you did me the 
 honour to send me from the Texel ; I have since 
 received your favour of the 8th from Amsterdam. 
 For some days after the arrival of your express, 
 scarce anything was talked of at Paris and Ver- 
 sailles but your cool conduct and persevering 
 bravery during that terrible conflict. You may 
 believe that the impression on my mind was not 
 less strong than that of others, but I do not choose 
 to say in a letter to yourself, all I think on such 
 an occasion. 
 
 " The ministry are much dissatisfied with Cap- 
 tain Landais, and Monsieur de Sartine has signi- 
 fied to me in writing, that it is expected that I 
 should send for him to Paris, and call him to 
 account for his conduct, particularly for deferring 
 so long his coming to your assistance ; by which 
 means, it is supposed, the States lost more of their 
 valuable citizens, and the king lost many of his 
 subjects, volunteers in your ship, together with 
 the ship itself. 
 
PAUL JONES. 123 
 
 w I have, accordingly, written to him this day, 
 acquainting him, that he is charged with disobe- 
 dience of orders in the cruize, and neglect of his 
 duty in the engagement ; that a court martial 
 being at this time inconvenient, if not impractica- 
 ble, I would give him an earlier opportunity of 
 offering what he has to say in his justification, and 
 for that purpose direct him to render himself im- 
 mediately here, bringing with him such papers or 
 testimonies as he may think useful in his defence. 
 I know not whether he will obey my orders, nor 
 what the ministry would do with him if he comes ; 
 but I suspect that they may, by some of their 
 concise operations, save the trouble of a court 
 martial. It will,, however, be well for you to fur- 
 nish me with what you may judge proper to sup- 
 port the charges against him, that I may be able 
 to give a just and clear account to Congress. In 
 the mean time it will be necessary, if he should 
 refuse to come, that you should put him under an 
 arrest, and in that case, as well as if he comes, 
 that you should either appoint some person to the 
 command or take it upon yourself, for I know of 
 
124 THE LIFE OF 
 
 no person to recommend to you as fit for that 
 station." 
 
 The " more concise operations," perhaps, 
 hinted at the Bastile. Landais, however, had 
 grown still bolder during his stay at the Hague, 
 and when these instructions had arrived, he was 
 loudly and constantly declaring, that the Serapis 
 had struck to the Alliance, and that he was the 
 cause of the successful issue of the contest. The 
 commander of the Serapis was a brave and fair 
 man. He did not pretend to say that he had not 
 struck to Jones, but of course, as every other man 
 in his situation would have done, he did not for- 
 get to state in his report to the lords of the admi- 
 ralty, that he had been engaged with two frigates. 
 This circumstance made his capture somewhat 
 less disgraceful. 
 
 Jones felt the difficulty of his situation. — He 
 was fully aware with what a suspicious eye the 
 world always looks upon conflicting and contrary 
 statements. 
 
 With his craving desire of fame, the idea that 
 be should be robbed of the reputation which he 
 
PAUL JONES. 125 
 
 had so hardly earned, was perfect madness. The 
 affair, he felt, must be crushed at the outset, and 
 he publicly appealed to the whole squadron. 
 
 This appeal, at least, shewed Jones's confidence 
 in the goodness of his cause ; for the conduct of 
 the French commanders had been anything but 
 indicative of devotion to the interests of the com- 
 modore. Cottineau and Ricot were, however, 
 men of honour ; and although jealousy had made 
 them but feebly co-operate in undertakings whose 
 merits they were unqualified to estimate, yet, 
 nevertheless, the conduct of Jones had in the day 
 of trial been so admirable, and that of Landais so 
 outrageous, that they answered the appeal of their 
 commander with promptitude and spirit. 
 
 Twenty-five charges were produced against the 
 Captain of the Alliance, and each of these 
 charges was supported by depositions of different 
 officers, " upon their words of honour as gentle- 
 men." 
 
 It was first proved, that Landais had purposely 
 run foul of the Bon Homme in the bay of Biscay. 
 This was a circumstance which Jones had strongly 
 suspected at the time. 
 
126 THE LIFE OF 
 
 His gross disrespect to the commodore, his 
 disobedience of signals, his refusal to answer 
 them, his unauthorized and mischievous separa- 
 tion from the squadron, his impudent and arrant 
 cowardice, formed the subject of ten distinct 
 accusations, which were proved by all the officers 
 who could possibly bear witness to the facts. His 
 conduct during the engagement with the Serapis, 
 and his ruinous neglect in not destroying and 
 capturing the Baltic fleet, were the subject of the 
 fifteen other accusations, and were proved in the 
 same manner. The chief officers of the Alliance 
 bore witness to the ill conduct of their commander. 
 Among other facts De Cottineau averred, that 
 when the Bon Homme appeared off Flamborough 
 head, Landais distinctly stated to him, that if, as 
 it appeared to be, it were a ship of fifty guns, " he 
 should decidedly run away," although he knew 
 the Pallas, from her heavy sailing, must have 
 fallen a sacrifice. It was also distinctly proved 
 that Landais had stated, that he should not have 
 cared had the Bon Homme struck, as then, from 
 the shattered state of the Serapis, he should have 
 
PAUL JONES, 127 
 
 had botli ships for prizes. We will leave Captain 
 Landais for the present. 
 
 " A thousand thanks, my loved and noble 
 friend," writes Jones to La Fayette, " for the very 
 kind and affectionate letter that you did me the 
 honour to write me from Havre, which greatly 
 rewards me for the danger that I have lately 
 overcome. Words are wanting to express how 
 much I esteem, how highly I value, and how much 
 I wish to merit, the friendship and affection of the 
 American general, Le Marquis de la Fayette. 
 
 " I am very much concerned and ashamed to 
 understand that my " numbers" that you received 
 from L'Orient were so ill composed. It is a proof 
 that their ladyships, the Muses, however conde- 
 scending they may be on the banks of the Helicon, 
 will not dispense their favours to the sons of a 
 Neptune, especially when they are 
 
 ' By bounding billows and rude winds that blow, 
 Alternate tossed in air, or sunk to sands below.' 
 
 " The late brutalities of the Britons in America 
 fill me with horror and indignation. They forget 
 that they are men: and I believe nothing will 
 
128 THE LIFE OF 
 
 bring them to their senses but the most exemplary 
 retaliation. Landais is ordered to Paris to answer 
 for his past conduct. 
 
 " I wish to answer very particularly the three 
 points, which you have propounded. 1st. I never 
 meant to ask a reward for my services, either 
 from France or America ; consequently the appro- 
 bation of the Court and of the Congress is all the 
 gratification I can wish for. 2dly. I yet intend 
 to undertake whatever the utmost exertions of my 
 abilities will reach, in support of the common 
 cause, as far as any force that may in future be 
 intrusted to my direction may enable me to suc- 
 ceed : (I hope, however, my future force will be 
 better composed than when I sailed from L'Orient). 
 I must sail from the Texel in the course of next 
 month, because ships cannot afterwards remain 
 here in this road. My destination or route from 
 hence, I yet know not ; but I need not tell you 
 that I wish to see your face. odly. It is now in 
 vain to say what might have been done two years 
 ago with the force you mention ; but I believe, if 
 properly supported by sea, such a force might 
 
PAUL JONES. 129 
 
 yet perform very essential service : there is no 
 guarding, you know, against storms, and one 
 would wish either to avoid or to outsail a superior 
 sea force. As I believe you know my way of 
 thinking on such subjects, I shall offer you no 
 arguments : I know you want no prompter. 
 
 " I beg Captain Ricot's pardon for having said, 
 in the extract of my journal, that, in the engage- 
 ment with the Serapis, he prevented my officers 
 and men in the pilot-boat from coming to my 
 assistance. I now find that this did not happen 
 till the pilot-boat had returned to the Vengeance, 
 about the middle of the action, without having 
 boarded the Bon Homme Richard according to 
 Captain Ricot's orders. I was a little vexed, too, 
 that Captain Ricot did not come on board the 
 Bon Homme Richard the next day to offer me 
 his assistance, when I was in the greatest imagin- 
 able distress and the signal was flying. But these 
 are trifles ; and I am much more obliged to him 
 for not firing, than to Landais for killing my men 
 and sinking my ship: upon the whole, Capt. Ricot 
 has acted as became a sensible, prudent officer, 
 
 K 
 
130 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and is a man with whom I wish to be further con- 
 nected. At Leith he was destined to cover the 
 descent, and I am fully convinced that he would 
 have executed it with great honour to himself, 
 had not the gale of wind in the critical moment 
 rendered the design impracticable. I shall correct 
 the error in my letter to the minister, and do his 
 character justice. 
 
 " I have a very good opinion, too, of the abili- 
 ties of Captain Cottineau, and I wish to be con- 
 cerned with them both in future, with better ships. 
 But I must speak plainly my opinion, since you 
 desire it — I do not think that the desire of glory 
 was the uppermost sentiment in the breast of any 
 captain under my command at the time we left 
 L'Orient." 
 
 Although so actively employed in the Texel, 
 Jones still found time to convey to the French 
 minister some hints as to fresh enterprises. But, 
 under the circumstances under which Jones en- 
 gaged, it was extremely difficult to find employ- 
 ment for his active> genius. He would not fight 
 under the French flag : the officers of the French 
 
PAUL JONES. 131 
 
 navy were extremely dissatisfied that a command 
 should be given to a foreigner, who was not entered 
 into their marine. Jones, however, had no mercy 
 on the minister in his dilemma, and was not very 
 anxious to conceal the sensations which he expe- 
 rienced. The Due de la Vauguyon, in conse- 
 quence of this dissatisfaction, wrote to him a very 
 soothing and complimentary epistle: — "I perceive 
 with pain, my dear Commodore, that you do not 
 view your situation in the right light ; and I can 
 assure you that the ministers of the king have no 
 intention to cause you the least disagreeable 
 feeling, as the honourable testimonials of the 
 esteem of his majesty which I send you ought to 
 convince you. I hope you will not doubt the 
 sincere desire with which you have inspired me 
 to procure you every satisfaction you may merit. 
 It cannot fail to incite you to give new proofs of 
 your zeal for the common cause of France and 
 America. I flatter myself to renew before long 
 the occasion, and to procure you the means to 
 increase still more the glory you have already 
 acquired. I am already occupied with all the 
 
 k 2 
 
132 THE LIFE OF 
 
 interest I promised you; and if my views are 
 realized, as I have every reason to believe, you 
 will be at all events perfectly content ; but I must 
 pray you not to hinder my project by delivering 
 yourself to the expression of those strong sensa- 
 tions to which you appear to give way, and for 
 which there is really no foundation. You appear 
 to possess full confidence in the justice and kind- 
 ness of the king; rely also upon the same senti- 
 ments on the part of his ministers." 
 
 " I have not a heart of stone," says Jones, 
 in answer to the Due, " but am duly sensible 
 of the obligation conferred on me by the very 
 kind and affectionate letter that you have done 
 me the honour to write me, the 21st current. 
 Were I to form my opinion of the ministry from 
 the treatment that I experienced while at Brest, 
 or from their want of confidence in me afterwards, 
 exclusive of what has taken place since I had the 
 misfortune to enter this port, I will appeal to your 
 excellency, as a man of candour and ingenuity, 
 whether I ought to desire to prolong a connexion 
 
PAUL JONES. 133 
 
 that has made me so unhappy, and wherein I have 
 given so very little satisfaction. M. le Chev. de 
 Lironcourt has lately made me reproaches on 
 account of the expense that, he says, France has 
 been at to give me reputation, in preference to 
 twenty captains of the royal navy, better qualified 
 than myself, and who, each of them, solicited for 
 the command that was lately given to me ! 
 
 " This, I confess, is quite new, and, indeed, 
 surprising to me ; and, had I known it before I 
 left France, I certainly should have resigned in 
 favour of the twenty men of superior merit. I 
 do not however think that his first assertion is 
 true; for the ministers must be unworthy of their 
 places, were they capable of squandering the 
 public money only to give an individual reputa- 
 tion ! and as to the second, I fancy the court will 
 not thank him for having given me that informa- 
 tion whether true or false. I may add here, that 
 with a force so ill composed, and with powers so 
 limited, I ran ten chances of ruin and dishonour, 
 for one of gaining reputation, and had not the 
 plea of humanity in favour of the unfortunate 
 
134 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Americans in English dungeons, superseded all 
 consideration of self, I faithfully assure you, my 
 Lord, that I would not have proceeded under 
 such circumstances from Groa. I do not imbibe 
 hasty prejudices against any individuals; but 
 when many and repeated circumstances conspir- 
 ing in one point, have inspired me with disesteem 
 towards any person, I must see convincing proof 
 of reformation in such person, before my heart 
 can beat again with affection in his favour : for 
 the mind is free, and can be bound only by kind 
 treatment. 
 
 " You do me great honour as well as justice, 
 my Lord, by observing, that no satisfaction can to 
 me be more precious than that of giving new proofs 
 of my zeal for the common cause of France and 
 America; and the interest you take to facilitate 
 the means of my giving sure proofs by essential 
 services claims my best thanks. I hope I shall 
 not, through any imprudence of mine, render in- 
 effectual any noble design that may be in contem- 
 plation for the general good : whenever that ob- 
 ject i4 mentioned my private concerns are out 
 
PAUL JONES. 135 
 
 of the question; and when I cannot speak ex- 
 actly what I could wish with respect to my 
 private satisfaction, I promise you in the mean 
 time to observe a profound silence." 
 
 Jones had previously expressed his dissatis- 
 faction in a letter to his friend, Mr. Morris, who 
 was then minister of America in France. 
 " The great seem to wish only to be concerned 
 with tools, who dare not speak or write truth. 
 I am not sorry that my connexion with them is 
 at an end. In the course of that connexion I 
 ran ten chances of ruin and dishonour for one 
 of reputation, and all the honour or profit that 
 France could bestow, should not tempt me 
 again to undertake the same service, with an 
 armament equally ill composed and with powers 
 equally limited. It affords me the most exalted 
 pleasure to reflect, that when I return to Ame- 
 rica, I can say, I have served in Europe at my 
 own expense, and without the fee or reward of 
 a court. When the prisoners we have taken 
 are safely lodged in France, I shall have no fur- 
 ther business in Europe, as the liberty of all our 
 
136 THE LIFE OF 
 
 fellow citizens who now suffer in English prisons 
 will then be secured." 
 
 The English ambassador persisted in urging 
 to the Dutch government the point which he 
 had formerly raised, as to the non-possession by 
 Jones and his squadron of proper commissions. 
 As it was certainly difficult to get over this 
 point, without immediately recognizing the in- 
 dependence of the American states, it was settled 
 that the French government should furnish the 
 squadron with French commissions, by virtue of 
 which, the objection of the English ambassador 
 would be answered. 
 
 But Jones refused the commission. " On his 
 arrival in the Texel, he had publicly declared 
 himself an officer of the United States of Ame- 
 rica ; he was not authorized by his government to 
 receive the proffered commission; and he more- 
 over conceived that, under existing circumstances, 
 it would be dishonourable to himself, and disad- 
 vantageous to America to change his flag." 
 
 The prudence of the French cabinet did not, 
 however, suffer the noble feelings of the Ame- 
 
PAUL JONES. 137 
 
 rican officer to compromise the safety of the rest 
 of the squadron. With the exception of the 
 Alliance, the remainder of the squadron were the 
 property of his most Christian Majesty, and the 
 French ambassador had in consequence the right 
 to dispose of them. The American minister ac- 
 companied the order of the French minister, with 
 one also to the commodore to deliver up all his 
 prisoners to the French ambassador, with the 
 Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough, to 
 convey them. Under convoy of the Dutch fleet, 
 the squadron left the Texel. 
 
 The English ambassador was greatly enraged 
 at the assistance thus unwarrantably granted by a 
 neutral government to an enemy of his royal 
 master. The idea of regaining the English ships 
 being now hopeless, additional retribution was to 
 be visited on their undaunted captor, and as open 
 remonstrance to the Dutch government had hi- 
 therto been unavailing, it was determined to have 
 recourse to secret intrigue. 
 
 In the mean time Jones did not lose his spirits 
 
138 THE LIFE OF 
 
 in his solitary situation. " I am exceedingly 
 obliged to you for this mark of your attention," 
 he writes to a Bordeaux friend, " and I would 
 not hesitate to avail myself of your proffered 
 services, if I could tell you where to send me 
 some good wine, which you know is not amiss 
 after hard blows. You know, I suppose, that Sir 
 Joseph Yorke and his masters are determined, 
 the one to drive me from hence if possible, and 
 the others to pay me their compliments in Eng- 
 land. I am much obliged to them for their kind 
 attentions, though they cannot well spare them. 
 They have done me the honour to place four fine 
 ships, at each entry to this road, to give me a 
 royal salute when I retreat. What regre£ I 
 should have, if an ill-natured gale of wind should 
 force them on shore before I am ready to receive 
 the honour which they intend to pay me." 
 
 The English ambassador at length succeeded, 
 by the influence of the Prince of Orange, in gain- 
 ing an order for the dismissal of Paul Jones from 
 the Texel. As therefore, in a very short time, 
 
PAUL JONES. 
 
 139 
 
 the American commander wa§ in all probability 
 to close his brief, but splendid, career, he felt it a 
 duty to draw up a short memoir of his public life, 
 and to transmit it to the American congress. 
 After a long statement, by which he shews that 
 it has never been his fortune to have possession 
 of means equal to his conceptions, he says of his 
 European exploits, that the first object of his life 
 " was to secure an exchange of American pri- 
 soners in Europe ; and my second, to put an end 
 to burnings in America, by making one good fire 
 of the English shipping. I succeeded in the first 
 in a manner far more glorious than my most flat- 
 tering ideas had expected when I left France. 
 
 In the second, I endeavoured to deserve suc- 
 cess; but a wise officer of mine* observed, that it 
 was a " rash thing," and that nothing could be 
 got by burning poor people's property. I must 
 however do the gentleman the justice to mention 
 his acknowledgment, that " he had no turn for 
 
 * Lieutenant Simpson. 
 
1 H) THE LIFE OF 
 
 enterprise;" and I must also do equal justice to 
 my former officers in the Providence and the 
 Alfred, by declaring, that had they then been 
 with me in the Ranger, 250 or 300 sail of large 
 ships at Whitehaven would have been laid in 
 ashes." 
 
 He finished by saying, " I have not drawn my 
 sword in our glorious cause for hire ; but in the 
 support of the dignity of human nature, and- in 
 obedience to the genuine divine feelings of philan- 
 thropy ; I hoisted with my own hands the flag 
 of Freedom the first time it was displayed on 
 the Delaware, I have attended it ever since with 
 veneration on the Ocean. I claimed and ob- 
 tained its first salute from that of France, before 
 our independence was otherwise announced in 
 that kingdom ; and no man can wish more ar- 
 dently to support its rising glory than myself." 
 
 In gaining an order for the dismissal of Jones 
 from the Texel, the English ambassador had 
 conceived that his grand object was obtained ; 
 for so completely did the American frigate ap- 
 
PAUL JONES. 141 
 
 pear to be blockaded, that escape seemed utterly 
 impossible. One morning, however, Jones with 
 a favouring breeze suddenly dashed from his. 
 retreat, and, " in spite of all their cruizing ships 
 and squadrons," fairly made his escape. " I am, 
 my dear philosopher," he writes to M. Dumas, 
 " this moment arrived here. We have made our way 
 good through the Channel in spite of the utmost 
 efforts of Britain to prevent it. I had the plea- 
 sure of laughing at their expense as we passed 
 the Downs, in spite of their ships of war, and 
 along the coast in full view of the Isle of Wight." 
 But while we admire the admirable skill, with 
 which the American commander eluded the 
 snares of his persecutors, with what other feel- 
 ings shall we view the conduct of that man, who, 
 in a situation of such imminent and extraordinary 
 peril, was calmly employed in scribbling some com- 
 plimentary stanzas to an absent fair one! Yet 
 such was the fact. The daughter of M. Dumas, 
 like all other fair dames, had made an early im- 
 pression on the sensitive heart of Paul Jones. 
 The lady wrote very pretty verses to a man pre- 
 
142 THE LIFE OF 
 
 eminent for his chivalric gallantry. The neglect 
 which he had been guilty of in not answering her 
 last verses from the Hague, appears to have 
 weighed more upon his mind than all the squa- 
 drons and remonstrances of his enemy. The 
 bad condition of the Alliance hatr prevented 
 Jones's favourite wish of cruizing for some time 
 against the enemy before his return to France. 
 Next to not being captured, he was extremely 
 desirous of returning with a capture. He was 
 obliged however, from the cause we have just stated, 
 to put in at Corogne, from which place he imme- 
 diately dispatched the letter to M. Dumas, from 
 which we have already quoted. " To shew you," 
 he continues," that I am entirely disposed to obey 
 you, I have enclosed un petit badinage for the 
 virgifi muse, but if I do not find critical mercy, 
 you shall not take me in so a second time." 
 
 As verses composed under such circumstances, 
 may pehaps, like a more celebrated effusion, " be 
 considered as a psycological curiosity," the reader 
 will most probably not be displeased with their 
 appearance. 
 
PAUL JONJES. 143 
 
 Verses written on board the Alliance off Ushant, the 
 
 Jirst day of January, 1781, immediately after escaping 
 
 out of the Texel from the blockade of the British fleet ; 
 
 being in answer to a piece written and sent to the Texel 
 
 by a young lady at the Hague. 
 
 TO MISS DUMAS. 
 
 I. 
 
 Were I, Paul Jones, dear maid, the " King of Sea," 
 
 I find such merit in thy virgin song, 
 
 A coral crown with bays I'd give to thee, 
 
 A car, which on the waves should smoothly glide along; 
 
 The Nereides all about thy side should wait, 
 
 And gladly sing in triumph of thy state, 
 
 " Vivat, vivat" the happy virgin muse ! 
 
 Of Liberty the friend, — whom tyrant power pursues! 
 
 II. 
 
 Or, happier lot ! were fair Columbia free 
 
 From British tyranny ; and youth still mine, 
 
 I'd tell a tender tale to one like thee 
 
 With artless looks, and breast as pure as thine. 
 
 If she approved my flame, distrust apart, 
 
 Like faithful turtles, we'd have but one heart; 
 
 Together then we'd tune the silver lyre, 
 
 As Love or sacred Freedom should our lays inspire. 
 
 III. 
 
 But since, alas ! the rage of war prevails, 
 
 And cruel Britons desolate our land, 
 
 For Freedom still I spread my willing sails, 
 
 My unsheathed sword my injured country shall command. 
 
 Go on, bright maid, the Muses all attend 
 
 Genius like thine, and wish to be its friend. 
 
 Trust me, although conveyed through this poor shift, 
 
 My new year's thoughts are grateful for thy virgin gift. 
 
M 1 THE LIFE OF 
 
 The escape of Paul Jones exhausted the pa- 
 tience of the court of London, and war was soon 
 after declared against the Low Countries. 
 The harbouring of the American commodore at 
 the Texel was the subject of the first article of 
 the declaration. Thus was this extraordinary 
 man the means by which a powerful European 
 government joined in the " common cause" to 
 which he was so devoted ! # 
 
 * I am indebted for much interesting matter contained in 
 this chapter, to a MS. state paper of the Dutch government. 
 It is styled, "'The statement of M. Van Berckel, grand 
 pensionary of Amsterdam, as to Commodore John Paul 
 Jones." 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Jones's illness — His arrival in Paris — His honours — Delia — 
 La belle Comtesse — An amourette — Captain Landais — 
 Jones's departure for America. 
 
 After a very stormy passage Jones arrived at 
 Groa, but his health was so impaired by his late 
 extraordinary exertions, that he was obliged to 
 defer for some weeks his much wished for journey 
 to Paris, and he resided at l'Orient. He suffered 
 terribly from inflammation in his eyes, " and was 
 not otherwise in good health." 
 
 " I am now a little recovered," he writes to 
 La Fayette, " but it is with difficulty that I can 
 look on paper, therefore I should not at this 
 instant have taken up my pen, had I not this day 
 understood by a friend, that my attachment and 
 esteem for this nation had been called in ques- 
 tion. Withdrawn, as I am at present, from the 
 
 L 
 
146 THE LIFE OF 
 
 public attention, and having endeavoured only 
 by my past conduct to prove my zeal for the 
 common cause, it is strange that I cannot escape 
 the malicious attacks of little minds. If any per- 
 son, who has himself deserved well of his coun- 
 try, can accuse me of ingratitude, let him step 
 forth like a man, and I will answer him ' en 
 homme cT honneurJ M. Weibert has, I under- 
 stand, taken great pains to promulgate that I 
 do not love France. He is not surely among the 
 most worthy part of the nation, yet he partook 
 both of my purse and table till the moment of 
 separation, after I had provided for him a free 
 passage in a ship destined for America, from a 
 situation where he had little danger to apprehend 
 from the enemy. To come to the point, here 
 follows my political profession. I am a citizen of 
 the world, totally unfettered by the little mean 
 distinctions of country or of climate, which di- 
 minish or set bounds to the benevolence of the 
 heart. Impelled by principles of gratitude or 
 philanthropy, I drew my sword at the beginning 
 
PAUL JONES. 147 
 
 of the American revolution ; and when France 
 so nobly espoused that great cause, no individual 
 felt the obligation with truer gratitude than my- 
 self. When the court of France soon after in- 
 vited me to remain for a time in Europe, I con- 
 sidered myself as highly honoured by the appli- 
 cation that was made to the American commis- 
 sioners. Since that time I have been at every 
 instant, and I still am, ready to do my utmost, for 
 the good of the common cause of France and 
 America. As an American officer, and as a man, 
 I affectionately love and respect the character 
 and nation of France, and hope the alliance 
 with America may last for ever. I owe the great- 
 est obligation to the generous praises of the 
 French nation on my past conduct, and shall be 
 happy to merit future favour. I greatly love and 
 esteem his most Christian Majesty, as the great 
 ally of America, the best of kings and the amiable 
 friend and protector of the rights of human 
 nature ; therefore he has very few of his own 
 subjects who would bleed in his present cause 
 with greater freedom than myself, and none who 
 
 l2 
 
1 4 S THE LTFE OF 
 
 are more disinterested. At the same time I 
 lament the calamities of war, and wish above all 
 things for an honourable, happy and lasting- 
 peace. My fortune is not augmented by the part 
 I have hitherto acted in the revolution, (al- 
 though I have had frequent opportunities of ac- 
 quiring riches,) and I pledge myself to the worthy 
 part of mankind, that my future conduct in the 
 war shall not forfeit their good opinion." 
 
 At length, early in the spring of the year (1780), 
 Jones reached Paris. If a nation's admiration 
 and applause could have compensated him for his 
 past dangers, (and there never breathed a being 
 to whom the praise of man was half so dear,) 
 Paul Jones was contented. At all public places 
 at which he appeared, the audience immediately 
 rose, he was followed by crowds in all the prome- 
 nades, and was the hero of every song and every 
 fashion. The chief nobility loaded him with 
 invitations, and by the especial desire of the king- 
 he was immediately introduced at court. He 
 was presented by his majesty with a superb 
 sword, " which would have done honour to the 
 
TAUL JONES. 149 
 
 greatest admiral in history." The costly weapon 
 bore this inscription : " vindicati maris ludo- 
 
 VICUS XVI. REMUNERATOR STRENUO VINDICI." 
 
 M. De Sartine transmitted him a letter, ex- 
 pressing in his majesty's name his entire appro- 
 bation of his conduct, and assuring him of his 
 particular personal esteem ; and means were 
 taken to obtain the permission of Congress, to 
 invest the conqueror of the Serapis with the cross 
 and institution of Military Merit. This last was 
 an honour which had never before been conferred 
 on any man, who had not actually served in the 
 army or navy of the kingdom. 
 
 Jones seems to have been delighted by the 
 gorgeous dissipation of the French metropolis. 
 He was, in truth, a republican merely by accident, 
 and should have lived in a land of countesses anil 
 crosses. All his former ideas of neglect and dis- 
 countenance vanished before the pomp of a levee 
 and the praise of a king ; and before he had 
 half exhausted the splendid fetes which rapidly 
 succeeded each other in honour of his victory 
 and his escape, he found himself in the singular 
 
150 THE LIFE OF 
 
 situation of being in love with every woman in 
 Paris. 
 
 Next to his desire for Fame, " which was in- 
 finite" the predominant passion of Paul Jones was 
 Love. I much fear that the acceptation which 
 this monosyllable possesses in the present age 
 will give the reader but a faint idea of the sensa- 
 tions of our hero. I should rather go back to 
 the age of Chivalry, and to the poesy of Trouba- 
 dours, to find parallels for his conduct and lan- 
 guage to describe it. With him woman was, 
 indeed, not a toy to waste some idle hours on, 
 but a superior existence, for whom man was born 
 an honoured slave. Her wildest caprice was to 
 him law, and her most improbable declaration 
 absolute authority. She was an exception to the 
 laws of war ; and, according to his creed, every 
 man was bound to lay down his life, rather than 
 cause her the uneasiness of a moment. Her 
 praise accordingly was nearly man's greatest 
 reward and most desired possession ; a reward 
 and a possession only second to those of gold 
 handled swords and diamond crosses. Jones 
 
PALL JONES. 151 
 
 was exceedingly agitated, because he heard that 
 a young Englishwoman, who was resident at 
 Paris, had imbibed the national prejudices against 
 him. He was always seriously in love, and often 
 with women he had never seen. It is very certain 
 that he had formed an attachment for " La belle 
 Comtesse," as he styles Lady Selkirk in his letters, 
 and yet this accomplished peeress had never 
 actually been seen by her ardent admirer. What 
 must have been such a man's sensations in Paris ? 
 What must have been such a man's sensations, 
 when he found himself in that metropolis, the 
 very pink of fashion, and when he was in cor- 
 respondence with even royal duchesses? Jones's 
 pen, moreover, was that " of a ready writer," and 
 his love letters were almost irresistible. His 
 verses, also, were not contemptible, although he 
 appears to have been occasionally hard put to it, 
 for I find some very good stanzas with double lines, 
 making them " pass current" both in America 
 and France ; such, for instance, as the following : 
 after a description of the return of Jove to 
 
152 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Heaven, from one of his terrestrial visits, he pro- 
 ceeds : 
 
 Thus when the warrior, tho' no god, 
 Brings Freedom's standard o'er the main, 
 Long absent from thy blest abode, 
 Casts anchor- in dear Finance again, S$c. 
 
 This last line, which gives so extemporary an air 
 to the stanzas, as if they had actually heen struck 
 off in the roads of Groa, gives way in Virginia 
 and Massachusets to 
 
 " In fair Colombia moors again." 
 
 The verses, from which I quote this stanza, 
 
 were, among other perfect specimens of nature's 
 workmanship, sent to a certain young and high 
 lady of the court, who, under the name of Delia, 
 seems to have been past all recovery. 
 
 This lady offered all her diamonds " and effects 
 of all kinds, which may be readily converted into 
 cash," because she heard that Jones's crew were 
 shut out from their prize money. Delia was very 
 sentimental. Her custom was to sit before her 
 lover's " portrait for hours, bathed in tears/' 
 
PAUL JONES. 153 
 
 This seems to have been too much for the 
 commodore, who really grew alarmed, when the 
 lady wished to follow him to America, " God ! 
 she would willingly be the lowest of his crew !" 
 
 I trust that Paul Jones did not behave ill to 
 this eloquent but anonymous young lady; her 
 letters are indeed quite heart-rending, and it is 
 marvel that the chevalier could have ever left 
 her ; but, unfortunately, about this time, a certain 
 Comtesse de Lavendahl glided before his enrap- 
 tured vision, and Delia, the adoring Delia, was, 
 I fear, forgotten. 
 
 The Comtesse de Lavendahl was very pretty, 
 and very young, and very dashing, and very sen- 
 timental, something of a flirt, and a little, it will 
 appear, of a wag. She smiled upon the most 
 sensitive heart in Christendom, and Paul Jones 
 was a constant inmate of her mansion at Versailles, 
 or rather the count's her. husband's ; for she did 
 not " smell of bread and butter," and in addition 
 to all her other qualifications — was married. The 
 count was in the provinces. La belle Com- 
 tesse — (I trust the unseen beauty of St. Mary's 
 
154 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Isle was not forgotten J — la belle Comtesse was an 
 artist; and she could find no subject for her 
 pencil half so fashionable and half so pleasing as 
 the countenance of Paul Jones. 
 
 The enraptured chevalier was constantly at 
 Versailles, and the noble artist was constant at 
 her easel. Who could withstand such a situa- 
 tion ? Alas ! not Paul Jones ! He was despe- 
 rately enamoured ; but the lady was intent upon 
 her easel, and only looked up to bestow a smile 
 and catch a feature. " You have made me in 
 love with my own picture, because you have con- 
 descended to draw it," gallantly remarked Jones 
 in one of those elegant billets, whose frequent 
 arrival made the Swisse at the hotel de Lavendahl 
 somewhat stare. But, apropos to portraits! Jones 
 soon remembered, that there was another person 
 in the world besides himself whose portrait might 
 be painted ; " if it is possible for you also to bestow 
 the portrait I have solicited, I will wear it round 
 my neck and always think how I may merit so 
 great an obligation." Can the Comtesse de 
 Lavendahl withstand a solicitation so elegantly 
 
PAUL JONES. I .">.-> 
 
 enforced ? The Comtesse de Lavendahl was the 
 most compliant of women — as far as portraits. 
 
 Jones was at length obliged to leave for 
 L'Orient. He passed the evening before his 
 departure with la belle Comtesse. and could not 
 help feeling somewhat annoyed when he found 
 himself in the hotel de Lavendahl still singled 
 out for the smiles of its beautiful mistress, but 
 not one whit more advanced in his suit than when 
 she first flitted by him like a vision never to return. 
 She even lamented his departure, in terms almost 
 too flattering, and at length he left, " though his 
 heart urged him to stay ;" but he left not to sleep : 
 and in despair, he wrote what an indefinable in- 
 fluence had always prevented him from uttering. 
 
 " I am deeply concerned in all that respects 
 your happiness, I therefore have been, and am 
 much affected at some words that fell, in private 
 conversation, from Mademoiselle Edes the evening 
 I left Versailles. I am afraid that you are less 
 happy than I wish, and am sure you deserve to 
 be. I am composing a cipher for a key to our 
 future correspondence, so that you will be able 
 
156 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to write to me very freely and without risk. It is 
 a small dictionary of particular words, with a 
 number annexed to each of them. In our letters 
 we will write sometimes the corresponding num- 
 ber instead of the word, so that the meaning can 
 never be understood, until the corresponding 
 words are interlined over the numbers. 
 
 " I beseech you to accept the within lock. I 
 am sorry that it is now eighteen inches shorter 
 than it was three months ago. If I could send 
 you my heart itself, or any thing else that could 
 afford you pleasure, it would be my happiness 
 to do it. Before I had the honour of seeing you, 
 I wished to comply with the invitation of my 
 lodge; and I need not add, that I have since 
 formed stronger reasons that have impelled me to 
 seek after the means of visiting France again as 
 soon as possible." 
 
 Alas, la belle Comtesse ! alas, deceitful woman! 
 The fair Lavendahl retained the cipher, the letter, 
 and the lock, but wrote to Jones to express her 
 astonishment at his audacity, and to express her 
 supposition that his packet was misdirected. \\\ 
 
PAUL JONES. 
 
 157 
 
 confirmation of this last idea, she begged to in- 
 troduce to him the Count de Lavendahl, her 
 husband; he was passing through L'Orient, and 
 she should " be obliged to Jones to pay him every 
 civility." Jones's answer is too good to be 
 omitted. His defence of himself, his compliment 
 to the husband, his introduction of business, and 
 his dextrous return to the charge at the end, are 
 all very admirable. 
 
 " L'Orient, July 14th, 1780. 
 
 " Madam, 
 
 " Since I had the honour to receive youv 
 packet from Versailles, I have carefully examined 
 the copy of my letter from Nantes, but am still at 
 a loss, and cannot conceive, what part of the let- 
 ter itself could have occasioned your imagining I 
 had mistaken the address. As for the little 
 packet it contained, perhaps it might better have 
 been omitted : if so, it is easily destroyed. If my 
 letter has given you even a moment's uneasiness, 
 I can assure you, that to think so would be as 
 severe a punishment as could be inflicted upon 
 me. However I may have been mistaken, my in- 
 
1,'>8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tention could never have been to give you the 
 most distant offence. I was greatly honoured by 
 the visit of the count, your husband, and am so 
 well convinced of his superior understanding, that 
 I am glad to believe Miss Edes was mistaken. I 
 admire him so much, that I should esteem myself 
 very happy indeed to have a joint expedition 
 with him by sea and land; though I am certain 
 that his laurels would far exceed mine. I men- 
 tion this, because M. de Genet has both spoken 
 and written* to me on the subject as from the 
 count himself. 
 
 " I had the honour to lay a project before the 
 king's ministers, in the month of May, for future 
 combined expeditions under the flag of America, 
 and had the satisfaction to find that my ideas 
 were approved by them. If the count, your hus- 
 band, will do me the honour to concert with M. 
 de Genet, that the court may send with me to 
 America the application that was intended to be 
 made to Congress, conformable to the proposal I 
 made, it would afford me a pleasing opportunity 
 
PAUL JONES. 159 
 
 of shewing my gratitude to the king, to his minis- 
 ters, and to this generous minded nation. I 
 should be greatly proud to owe my success to 
 your own good offices; and would gladly share 
 with your husband the honour that might result 
 from our operations. I have within these few 
 days had the honour to receive from his majesty 
 the cross of Military Merit, with a sword, that is 
 worthy the royal giver, and a letter which I ar- 
 dently wish to deserve. I hold the- sword in too 
 high estimation to risk its being taken by the 
 enemy; and therefore propose to deposit it in the 
 care of a friend. None can be more worthy of 
 that sacred deposit thanf you, Madam: and if 
 you will do me the honour to be its guardian, I 
 shall esteem myself under an additional obligation 
 to deserve your ribbon, and to prove myself worthy 
 of the title of your knight. I promised to send 
 you a particular account of my late expedition ; 
 but the late extraordinary events that have taken 
 place, w r ith respect to the frigate Alliance, make 
 me wish to postpone that relation until after a 
 rourt-martial in America shall have furnished 
 
160 THE LIFE Ol 
 
 evidence for many circumstances that would, from 
 a simple assertion, appear romance and founded 
 on vanity. The only reason for the revolt on 
 board the Alliance was, because the men were 
 not paid either wages or prize-money; and be- 
 cause one or two envious persons persuaded them 
 that I had concurred with M. de Chaumont to 
 defraud them, and to keep them in Europe during 
 the war, which, God knows, was not true. For 
 I was bound directly for America ; and far from 
 concurring with M. de Chaumont I had not 
 even written or spoken to him, but had highly re- 
 sented his mean endeavours to keep the poor men 
 out of their just rights, which was the only busi- 
 ness that brought me to court in April. 
 
 " If I am to have the honour of writing you from 
 beyond sea, you will find that the cipher I had the 
 honour to send you may be necessary; because I 
 would not wish all my informations to be under- 
 stood, in case my letters should fall into the hands 
 of the enemy. I shall communicate no idea in 
 cipher that will offend even such great delicacy 
 as yours ; but as you are a philosopher, and as 
 
PAUL JONES. \()[ 
 
 friendship has nothing to do with sex, pray what 
 harm is there in wishing to have the picture of a 
 friend ? 
 
 " Present, I pray you, my best respects to the 
 count. If we are hereafter to be concerned to- 
 gether in war, I hope my conduct will give him 
 satisfaction. At any rate, I hope for the honour 
 of his friendship. Be assured that I shall ever 
 preserve for you the most grateful esteem, and 
 
 the most profound respect. 
 
 " Paul Jones." 
 
 " Madame la Comtesse de Lavendahl, 
 a Versailles." 
 
 The fame of Jones was now so great, that 
 many members of the first families in France 
 eagerly sought the honour of serving under his 
 command. A young nobleman of fortune, the 
 Count de Tourneville, wrote to him, that "al- 
 though he had not the honour of a personal 
 acquaintance with him, yet the fame of his ex- 
 ploits, and the glory he had acquired in his last 
 engagement, induced him to ask a favour at his 
 hands :" and, he continues, " it is to grant me an 
 opportunity of being a witness of, and a partaker 
 
 M 
 
1G2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 in your chivalrous adventures. Understanding 
 that you are now at Dunkirk, where, without 
 doubt, the design of flying to achieve new con- 
 quests will not suffer you to remain long, I hasten 
 to offer you my services. I have the honour to 
 request that you will receive me simply as a volun- 
 teer, in order that having no fixed post, I may he 
 every where. I have further only to stipulate, 
 that you will admit me to your own table, and 
 place me under your immediate command, so that 
 I may satiate my eyes with the pleasure of be- 
 holding your courage, and at least imitate, for it 
 is impossible to equal it. If I should be for- 
 tunate enough to obtain this favour, rest assured 
 that you will always find me in the path of honour. 
 I have been long in the service of my country ; 
 but the reform which I have introduced in the 
 corps to which I belong, leaves me at leisure to 
 employ myself elsewhere. Having a passion for 
 a sea life, which I have already partially gratified 
 by a voyage to the Indies, I am eager to make one 
 or two campaigns. Since the moment, when the 
 fame of your glorious expedition spread through 
 
PAUL JONES. 103 
 
 the world, I have wished to serve under your 
 orders; and seize the present opportunity to as- 
 sure you, that, if you accept my proffered services, 
 you will never have cause to repent it: circum- 
 stances of a very peculiar nature render me very 
 anxious to execute this intention." 
 
 The naval force of America in 1780 was so 
 limited, that the necessity of guarding the har- 
 bour of Charleston rendered it necessary to recall 
 the Alliance to the United States. Landais, on 
 his arrival at Paris, had been displaced from the 
 command of this ship by Dr. Franklin, and had 
 been ordered to America. He had not disputed 
 the minister's commands, and had received money 
 from him on account of his passage home to an- 
 swer his conduct to the Board of Admiralty. 
 Landais, although a Frenchman, was an American 
 subject. He wrote to Franklin, after he had been 
 displaced from the Alliance, and had the impu- 
 dence to ask for the command of another ship. — 
 Franklin's answer is very characteristic. 
 
 " No one has ever learned the opinion I formed 
 of you from inquiry made into your conduct. I 
 
 m 2 
 
164 THE LIFE OF 
 
 kept it entirely to myself. I have not even hinted 
 it in my letters to America, because I would not 
 hazard giving to any one a bias to your prejudice. 
 By communicating a part of that opinion privately 
 to you, I can do no harm, for you may burn it. 
 I should not give you the pain of reading it, if 
 your demand did not make it necessary. I think 
 you then so imprudent, so litigious and quarrel- 
 some a man, even with youv best friends, that 
 peace and good order, and consequently the quiet 
 and regular subordination so necessary to suc- 
 cess, are, where you preside, impossible; these 
 are within my observation and apprehension. 
 Your military operations I leave to more capable 
 judges. If, therefore, I had twenty ships of war 
 in my disposition, I should not give one of them 
 to Captain Landais. The same temper which 
 excluded him from the French marine would weigh 
 equally with me; of course, I shall not replace 
 him in the Alliance." 
 
 Franklin then formally appointed Jones to the 
 Alliance ; he left Paris to join his ship with the 
 
PAUL JONES. 165 
 
 following letter from the French minister to the 
 American president : 
 
 a Versailles, 30th May, 1780. 
 " Commodore Paul Jones, after having 
 shewn to all Europe, and particularly to the ene- 
 mies of France and the United States, the most 
 unquestionable proofs of his valour and talents, is 
 about returning to America, to give an account to 
 Congress of the success of his military operations. 
 I am convinced, sir, that the reputation he has so 
 justly acquired will precede him, and that the re- 
 cital of his actions alone will suffice to prove to 
 his fellow citizens that his abilities are equal to 
 his courage. But the king has thought proper 
 to add his suffrages and attention to the public 
 opinion. He has expressly charged me to inform 
 you, how perfectly he is satisfied with the ser- 
 vices of the commodore, persuaded that Congress 
 will render him the same justice. He has pre- 
 sented him, as a proof of his esteem, with a 
 sword, which cannot be placed in better hands ; 
 and likewise proposes to Congress to decorate 
 this brave officer with the Cross of Military 
 
166 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Merit. His majesty conceives that this particular 
 distinction, by holding forth the same honours to 
 the two nations, united by the same interests, will 
 be looked upon as one tie more that connects 
 them, and will support that emulation which is so 
 precious to the common cause. If, after having 
 approved the conduct of the commodore, it should 
 be thought proper to give him the command of 
 any new expedition to Europe, his majesty will 
 receive him again with pleasure, and presumes 
 that Congress will oppose nothing that may be 
 judged expedient to secure the success of his 
 enterprizes. My personal esteem for him induces 
 me to recommend him very particularly to you, 
 sir, and I dare flatter myself that the reception he 
 will receive from Congress and you will warrant 
 the sentiments with which he has inspired me. 
 
 " De Sartine." 
 
 "To Mr. Huntingdon, President of the Congress 
 of the United States of America." 
 
 The French government had also arranged 
 that the frigate Ariel, with supplies for the United 
 States, should accompany the Alliance to France, 
 
PAUL JONES. 167 
 
 Jones at length left Paris and Versailles, after 
 some months of exquisite enjoyment. He was 
 deeply affected by the splendid reception which 
 he had experienced at court, and he " felt bound," 
 he says, " by gratitude and honour, to give every 
 proof in his power of his affection to France." 
 A troublesome, plot was, however, all this time 
 preparing for him, notwithstanding " all his 
 blushing honours." 
 
 Arthur Lee, who held some diplomatic situation 
 from the American government to the court of 
 France, was the bitter enemy of Dr. Franklin, and, 
 to annoy the minister-plenipotentiary, secretly 
 fomented the affair of Landais. By his advice, 
 this fellow secretly departed from Paris a few 
 days before Jones, and, reaching the' Alliance 
 frigate, he informed the crew, that he knew for a 
 certainty, that Paul Jones was the secret cause of 
 their not having their prize money paid them, and 
 that he was their real captain, for he was appointed 
 by Congress, and had never waived his right of 
 commanding them. The crew were soon suffi- 
 ciently excited, and they left the harbour under 
 
168 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the command of Landais. " I confess to you," 
 writes Jones to Madame Tellison, " that I feel 
 rather ashamed that such an event should have 
 happened, although, God knows, it was not owing 
 to any fault of mine. The true reason was, that 
 M. Roy de Chaumont unjustly detained from the 
 brave Americans, who had so bravely served in 
 the squadron under my command, not only their 
 wages, but also their prize money ; and he has not, 
 even to this hour, given me the means of paying 
 them their just claims. One or two envious per- 
 sons here, taking advantage of these circumstances, 
 persuaded these poor people that I had joined 
 M. Roy de Chaumont to detain from them their 
 just dues, and that it was besides my intention 
 to carry them on new expeditions in Europe, and 
 not to suffer them to return to their families in 
 America during the war. These insinuations 
 were false and groundless; I had disapproved 
 the conduct of M. Roy de Chaumont, so much as 
 neither to speak or write to him after my return 
 to France. My sole business at court was to ob- 
 
PAUL JONES. 169 
 
 tain the free sale of the prizes, which I effected ; 
 and, far from being then bound on new expedi- 
 tions in Europe, I was ordered by the board of 
 admiralty in America to return forthwith to Con- 
 gress, and had in consequence received the 
 public dispatches both from Dr. Franklin and the 
 court. The Alliance, however, was hurried out 
 of this port before the crew had time for reflec- 
 tion ; yet before they sailed from the road of 
 Groa, many of them seeing their error refused to 
 weigh anchor, and were carried to sea confined 
 hands and feet in irons. The government of 
 France had taken measures to stop the ship, but 
 I interposed, to prevent bloodshed between the 
 subjects of the two allied nations. I am now 
 again almost ready to sail in the Ariel, and I 
 know soon after my arrival in America that Con- 
 gress will do me impartial justice. I will then 
 have the happiness to furnish you with the account 
 I promised, and the circumstances will be sup- 
 ported by the fullest evidence. I dare promise 
 that it will then appear, that I have only been to 
 blame, for having returned here from Paris with- 
 
170 THE LIFE OF 
 
 out having insisted absolutely on the previous 
 payment of my men. Money is essential in war ; 
 in love, you will tell me, perhaps the case may be 
 otherwise. I have still in contemplation to return 
 to France, soon after my arrival in America, for 
 I have the most ardent desire to give the court, 
 the nation, and my friends, further proof of my 
 gratitude, by my services in the glorious cause of 
 Freedom, that France has so nobly espoused in 
 concert with America. The singular honours I 
 have lately received from the king have made 
 the deepest and most lasting impression on my 
 heart, and it shall be my constant care to deserve 
 the continuance of his majesty's esteem." 
 
 The Alliance might certainly have been stopped, 
 but Jones was always desirous of preventing any 
 contention between the Americans and the French. 
 " My having prevented this scene of horror has 
 been, I am persuaded, no small disappointment to 
 the wicked hearts and empty heads of Captain 
 Landais's two principal advisers ; such a scene 
 would have been an excellent ground of argument 
 for the tools of England." 
 
PAUL JONES. 171 
 
 " The brave men who so gloriously served with 
 me in the Bon Homme Richard are now con- 
 fined as prisoners in the hold of the Alliance, 
 and treated with every mark of indignity. I had 
 destined them to complete a crew for the Ariel 
 and have demanded them in vain for that purpose. 
 I cannot see where all this will end, but surely it 
 must fall dreadful on the heads of those who have 
 stirred up this causeless mutiny. For my own part, 
 I shall make no other remark, than that I never 
 directly nor indirectly sought after the command 
 of the Alliance ; but after having, in obedience 
 to orders, commanded her for seven months, and 
 after Mr. Lee had made a written application to 
 me as commander of that ship for a passage to 
 America, I am at a loss what name to give Mr. 
 Lee's late conduct and duplicity in stirring up a 
 mutiny in favour of the man, who was at first 
 sent to America contrary to Mr. Lee's opinion 
 by Mr. Dean, and who is actually under arrest 
 by an order of his sovereign. What gives me 
 the greatest pain is, that after I had obtained 
 from government the means of transporting to 
 
17£ THE LIFE OF 
 
 America under a good protection the arms and 
 clothing I have already mentioned, Mr. Lee 
 should have found means to defeat my intentions. 
 I thank God I am of no party and have no bro- 
 thers nor relations to serve. You will bear me 
 witness, my worthy friend, that I never asked 
 a favour for myself from Congress ; for you have 
 seen all my letters and know that I never sought 
 any indirect influence, though my ambition to 
 act an eminent and useful part in this glorious 
 revolution is unbounded. I pledge myself to you 
 and to America, that my zeal receives new ardour 
 from the oppositions it meets with, and I live but 
 to overcome them and to prove myself no mock 
 patriot, but a true friend to the rights of human 
 nature upon principles of disinterested philan- 
 thropy. Of this I have already given some proofs, 
 and I will give more. Let not therefore the 
 virtuous senate of America be misled by the in- 
 sinuations of fallen ambition. Should any thing 
 be said to my disadvantage, all I ask is, a sus- 
 pension of judgment until I can appear before 
 Congress to answer for myself. I repeat that I 
 
yet 
 
 PAUL JONES. 17 
 
 am determined to steer clear of party and to keep 
 within my line of duty as an officer." 
 
 " I am convinced," he says to Mr. Morris, " that 
 Mr. Lee has acted in this matter merely because 
 I would not become the enemy of the venerable, 
 the wise and good Franklin, whose heart and 
 head will always do honour to human nature. I 
 know the great and good in this kingdom better, 
 perhaps, than any other American who has ap- 
 peared in Europe since the treaty of alliance ; 
 and if my testimony would add anything to Frank- 
 lin's reputation, I could witness the universal 
 veneration and esteem with which his name 
 inspires all ranks, not only at Versailles and all 
 over this kingdom, but also in Spain and in Hol- 
 land, and can aver from the testimony of the first 
 characters of other nations, that as to him, envy 
 itself is dumb when the name of Franklin is but 
 mentioned." 
 
 Before he sailed in the Ariel, Jones furnished 
 the Count deVergennes with some hints as to their 
 future proceedings. 
 
 " It is absolutely necessary, my Lord, to de- 
 
174 THE LIFE OF 
 
 stroy the foreign commerce of the English, espe- 
 cially their trade to the Baltic, from whence they 
 draw all their supplies for their marine. It is 
 equally necessary to alarm their coasts, not only 
 in their colonies abroad, but in their islands at 
 home. These things would distress and distract 
 the enemy much more than many battles between 
 fleets of equal force. England has carried on 
 the war against America in a far more barbarous 
 manner than she durst have adopted against any 
 power of Europe. America has the right to 
 retaliate, and by our having the same language 
 and customs with the enemy, we are in a situation 
 to surprize their coasts and take such advantage of 
 their unguarded situation, under the flag of 
 America, as can never be done under the flag of 
 France. This is not theory, but I have proved 
 it by my experience, and if I have opportunity I 
 will yet prove it more fully." 
 
 He writes to the Honourable William Car- 
 michael, the American minister at Madrid, " there 
 is, I understand, a board of admiralty at last ap- 
 pointed. This ought to have been done long 
 
PAUL JONES. 175 
 
 ago, and a general reform should have been made. 
 But as we have now lost, I may say, all our navy, 
 the Board will certainly know whom they employ 
 in future. The affair of Charleston is too bad 
 in any light in which I have yet heard of its being 
 placed. I mean with respect to the defence by 
 sea ; as to the defence by land, or the wisdom or 
 folly of suffering the troops to be cooped up in 
 the town, I shall not pretend to judge." 
 
 In September, 1780, Jones sailed. His last 
 letter was to a lady, Madame D'Ormoy. 
 
 " I cannot leave France without expressing how 
 much I feel myself honoured and obliged by the 
 generous attention that you have shewn to my 
 reputation in your journal. I will ever have the 
 most ardent desire to merit the spontaneous 
 praise of beauty and her pen ; and it is impossi- 
 ble to be more grateful than [ am for the very 
 polite attentions I lately received at Paris and 
 Versailles. My particular thanks are due to you, 
 madam, for the personal proofs I had received of 
 your esteem and friendship, and for the happiness 
 you procured me in the society of the charming 
 
176 THE LIFE OF 
 
 countess, and other ladies and gentlemen of your 
 circle. But I have a favour to ask of you, madam, 
 which I hope you will grant me. You tell me in 
 your letter, that the inkstand I had the honour to 
 present you, as a small token of my esteem, shall 
 be reserved for the purpose of writing what con- 
 cerns me ; now, I wish you to see my idea in a 
 more expanded light, and would have you make 
 use of that inkstand to instruct mankind, and sup- 
 port the dignity and rights of human nature." 
 
 The Ariel, however, met with a tremendous 
 storm, and was forced to put back and refit. 
 
 " By the enclosed declaration of my officers," 
 he writes the same lady, " you will see, my dear 
 madam, that I was in a ticklish situation in the 
 moment while you were employed in writing to 
 me the 9th ultimo. Jt is impossible to be more 
 sensible than I am of the obligation conferred on 
 me by your attentions and kind remembrance, 
 joined to that of the belle comtesse, your fair 
 daughters, and the amiable ladies and gentlemen 
 
 of your society. I have returned without laurels ; 
 
 * 
 
 and, what is worse, without having been able to 
 
PAUL JONES. 177 
 
 render service to the glorious cause of liberty i 
 know not why Neptune was in such anger, unless 
 he thought it an affront in me to appear on his 
 ocean with so insignificant a force. It is certain, 
 that till the night of the 8th, I did not fully con- 
 ceive the awful majesty of tempest and of ship 
 wreck. I can give you no just idea of the tre- 
 mendous scene that nature then presented, which 
 surpassed the reach even of poetic fancy and the 
 pencil. I believe no ship was ever before saved 
 from an equal danger off the point of the Pen- 
 mark rocks. I am extremely sorry that the young 
 English lady you mention should have imbibed 
 the national hatred against me. I have had 
 proofs that many of the first and finest ladies of 
 that nation are my friends. Indeed I cannot 
 imagine why any fair lady should be my enemy ; 
 since upon the large scale of universal philan- 
 thropy, I feel, acknowledge, and bend before the 
 sovereign power of beauty. The English nation 
 may hate me; but / will force them to esteem me 
 ioo. You have heard, no doubt, that Captain 
 
 N 
 
178 THE LIFE Of 
 
 Landais, and all the officers of the Alliance, have 
 been laid under arrest, by order of Congress, on 
 their arrival in America, and the command of the 
 Alliance was given to the brave Captain Barry." 
 
PAUL JONES. 179 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Jones arrives m America — Order of Congress —Resolutions 
 of Congress — Appointed to the America — Hints for a naval 
 system — Appointed agent for European prize-money — Re- 
 turns to France. 
 
 Jones arrived in the United States early in the 
 year 1781. Mr. Lee, however, and Landais, had 
 arrived before him ; and Jones immediately re- 
 ceived an order from the Congress to answer 
 forty-seven interrogatories. These were all rela- 
 tive to the events which had occurred during lii^ 
 residence in Europe. 
 
 He delivered, in due course, the letter of the 
 French ambassador; and it is singular, that al- 
 though the forty-seven interrogatories were, of 
 course, yet unanswered, the Congress immediately 
 passed the following resolutions: 
 
 »\ Congress, February, 1781. 
 
 " Resolved, That the Congress entertain a high sense of 
 the distinguished bravery and military conduct of John Paul 
 Jones, Esq. Captain in the Navy of the United States, and par- 
 ticularly in his victory over the British ship Serapis, on the 
 
 n2 
 
180 THE LIFE* OF 
 
 toast of England, which was attended with circumstances so 
 brilliant as to excite general applause and approbation. 
 
 " Resolved, That the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United 
 States at the Court of Versailles communicate to his Most 
 Christian Majesty the high satisfaction Congress have re- 
 ceived from the conduct and gallant behaviour of Captain 
 Paul Jones, having merited the attention and approbation of 
 iiis Most Christian Majesty, and that his Majesty's offer of 
 investing Captain Jones with a cross of Military Merit is highly 
 acceptable to Congress." 
 
 The answers to the forty-seven interrogatories, 
 and which indeed are a short history of the- most 
 active part of Jones's life, were sent in in less than 
 aweek after the order had been transmitted to him. 
 After a perusal of them, the matter does not 
 seem to have been proceeded in. The complaints 
 of Lee and Landais were most probably a ruse, 
 to make the just complaints of Jones appear in 
 the odious and questionable light of a counter 
 accusation. In this, however, they were disap- 
 pointed. Jones soon perceived that Mr. Lee was 
 not disinclined to escape from the controversy 
 which his imprudent patronage of Landais seemed 
 threatening to entail upon him. Landais, his tool, 
 was very quietly shelved; and Mr. Arthur Lee 
 was one of the very committee who recommended, 
 
PAUL JONES. 181 
 
 in a few weeks after, Paul Jones to Congress 
 the most proper person to command the America, 
 the first seventy-four, which it was intended 
 should launch from the Dock- Yard of the United 
 States. Accordingly, in the month of June, 
 Jones was unanimously elected by Congress to 
 this command. 
 
 Jones was occupied in superintending the con- 
 struction of this ship for upwards of sixteen 
 months. His attention was now again recalled to 
 the state of the American navy ; and he accord- 
 ingly drew up a memorial upon this subject, which 
 he transmitted to the minister of marine. We 
 make some extracts from it, which will be found 
 to be exceedingly interesting, and not merely to 
 our naval officers. 
 
 " The beginning of our navy, as navies now 
 rank, was so singularly small, that, I am of opinion, 
 it has no precedent in history. Was it a proof of 
 madness in the first corps of sea officers to have, 
 at so critical a period, launched out on the ocean 
 with only two armed merchant ships, two armed 
 bri^antines, and one armed sloop, to make srax 
 
THE LIFE or 
 
 against such a power as Great Britain? To be 
 diffident is not always a proof of ignorance. I 
 had sailed before this revolution in armed ships 
 and frigates, yet, when I came to try my skill, I 
 am not ashamed to own I did not find myself 
 perfect in the duties of a first lieutenant. If 
 midnight study and the instruction of the greatest 
 and most learned sea officers, can have given mc 
 advantages, I am not without them. I confess, 
 however, I have yet to learn; it is the work of 
 many years study and experience to acquire the 
 high degree of science necessary for a great sea 
 officer. Cruising after merchant ships, the ser- 
 vice in which our frigates have generally been 
 employed, affords, I may say, no part of the know- 
 ledge necessary for conducting fleets and their 
 operations. There is now, perhaps, as much dif- 
 ference between a battle between two ships, and 
 an engagement between two fleets, as there is 
 between a duel and a ranged battle between two 
 armies. The English, who boast so much of 
 their navy, never fought a ranged battle on the 
 ocean before the war that is now ended. The 
 
PAUL JONES. 183 
 
 battle off Ushant was, on their part, like their 
 former ones, irregular; and Admiral Keppcll 
 could only justify himself by the example of 
 Ilawke in our remembrance, and of Russel in the 
 last century. From that moment the English 
 were forced to study, and to imitate, the French 
 in their evolutions. They never gained any ad- 
 vantage when they had to do with equal force, 
 and the unfortunate defeat of Count dc Grasse 
 was owing more to the unfavourable circum- 
 stances of the wind coming a-head four points at 
 the beginning of the battle, which put his fleet 
 into the order of echiquier when it was too late to 
 tack, and of calm and currents afterwards, which 
 brought on an entire disorder, than to the ad- 
 miralship or even the vast superiority of Rod- 
 ney, who had forty sail of the line against thirty, 
 and five three-deckers against one. By the ac- 
 count of some of the French officers, Rodney 
 might as well have been asleep, not having made 
 a second signal during the battle, so that every 
 captain did as he pleased." 
 
 " The English are very deficient in signal- 
 
THE LITE OF 
 
 well as in naval tactic. This I know, having hi 
 my possession their present fighting and sailing 
 instructions, which comprehend all their signals 
 and evolutions. Lord Howe has, indeed, made 
 some improvements by borrowing from the 
 Trench. But Kempenfelt, who seems to have 
 been a more promising officer, had made a still 
 greater improvement by the same means. It was 
 said of Kempenfelt, when he was drowned in the 
 Royal George, England has lost her du Pavillion. 
 That great man, the Chevalier du Pavillion, com- 
 manded the Triumphant, and was killed in the 
 last battle of Count de Grasse. France lost in 
 him one of her greatest naval tacticians, and a 
 man who had, besides, the honour (in 1773) to 
 invent the new system of naval signals, by which 
 sixteen hundred orders, questions, answers and 
 informations can, without confusion or miscon- 
 struction, and with the greatest celerity, be com- 
 municated through a great fleet. It was his fixed 
 opinion that a smaller number of signals would be 
 insufficient, A captain of the line at this day 
 nmsi be a tactician. A captain of a cruising 
 
PAUL JONE, 
 
 frigate may make shift without ever having heard 
 of naval tactics. Until I arrived in France, and 
 became acquainted with that great tactician Count 
 D'Orvilliers, and his judicious assistant the Che- 
 valier du Pavillion, who, each of them, honoured 
 me with instructions respecting the science of 
 governing the operations, &c. of a fleet, I con 
 fess I was not sensible how ignorant I had heeir, 
 before that time, of naval tactics." 
 
 Jones then proceeds to inquire into the propriety 
 of limiting the grades as adopted in all navies; 
 and, after some remarks upon the mischief which, 
 had accrued already to the American navy from 
 
 this limitation, he continues — 
 
 i 
 " From the observations I have made, and what 
 
 I have read, it is my opinion, that in a navy there 
 ought to be at least as many grades below a cap- 
 tain of the line, as there are below a colonel of a 
 regiment. Even the navy of France is deficient 
 in subaltern grades, and has paid dearly for that 
 error in its constitution, joined to another of equal 
 magnitude, which authorizes ensigns of the navy 
 to take charge of watch on board ships of the 
 
186 THE LIFE OF 
 
 line. One instance may be sufficient to shew 
 this. The Zele in the night between the 11th 
 and 12th of April, 1782, ran on board the Villc 
 de Paris, which accident was the principal cause 
 of the unfortunate battle that ensued next day, 
 between Count de Grasse and Admiral Rodney. 
 That accident in all probability would not have 
 happened, had the deck of the Zele been at the 
 time commanded by a steady experienced lieu- 
 tenant of the line, instead of a young ensign. 
 The charge of the deck of a ship of the line should, 
 in my judgment, never be intrusted to an officer 
 under twenty-five years of age. At that time of 
 life he may be supposed to have served nine or 
 ten years, a term not more than sufficient to have 
 furnished him with the necessary knowledge for so 
 great a charge. It is easy to conceive that the 
 minds of officers must become uneasy, when they 
 are continued too long in any one grade, which 
 must happen (if regard be paid to the good of the 
 service) where there are no more subaltern grade 
 thairaiidshipman and lieutenant. Would it not !>•. 
 
 ■*> 
 
PAUL JONES. 1ST 
 
 wiser to raise young men by smaller steps and to 
 increase the number?" 
 
 " I have many things to offer respecting the 
 formation of our navy, but s'hall here limit myself 
 to one, which I think a preliminary to the forma- 
 tion and establishment of a naval constitution 
 suitable to the local situation, resources and pre- 
 judices of this continent. The constitution adopted 
 for the navy in the year 1775, and by which it 
 has been governed ever since, and crumbled away, 
 I may say, to nothing, is so very defective, that 
 I am of opinion it would be difficult to spoil it. 
 Much wisdom, and more knowledge than we pos- 
 sess, is, in my humble opinion, necessary to the 
 formation of such a naval constitution as is abso- 
 lutely wanting. If, when our finances enable us 
 to go on, we should set out wrong, as we did in 
 the year 1775, but much more so after the ar- 
 rangement or rather derangement of rank in 1776, 
 much money may be thrown away to little or no 
 purpose. We are a young people, and need not be 
 ashamed to ask advice from nations older and' 
 more experienced in marine affairs than ourselves. 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 This, I conceive, might be done in a manner that 
 would be received as a compliment by several or 
 perhaps all the marine powers of Europe, and at 
 the same time would enable us to collect such 
 helps as would be of vast use when we come to 
 form a constitution for the creation and govern- 
 ment of our marine, the establishment and police 
 of our dock-yards, academies, hospitals, &c. &c 
 and the general police of our seamen throughout 
 the continent. These considerations induced 
 me, on my return from the fleet of his excellency 
 the Marquiz de Vaudreuil, to propose to you to 
 lay my ideas on the subject before Congress, and 
 to propose sending a proper person to Europe in 
 a handsome frigate to display our flag in the ports 
 of the different marine powers, to offer them the 
 free use of our ports and propose to them com- 
 mercial advantages, &c, and then to ask per- 
 mission to visit their marine arsenals, to be in- 
 formed how they are furnished both with men, 
 provision, materials, and warlike stores, — by what 
 police and officers they are governed, how and 
 from what resources the officers and men arc 
 
PAUL JONES. l&J 
 
 paid, &c. — the line of conduct drawn between 
 the officers of the fleet and the officers of the 
 ports, &c. — also the armament and equipment ol 
 the different ships of war, with their dimensions, 
 the number and qualities of their officers and 
 men, by what police they are governed in port and 
 at sea, how and from what resources they are fed, 
 clothed and paid, &c, and the general police of 
 their seamen, and academies, hospitals, &c. &c. 
 If you still object to my project on account of 
 the expense of sending a frigate to Europe arid 
 keeping her there till the business can be effected, 
 I think it may be done, though, perhaps, not with 
 the same dignity, without a frigate. My plan 
 for forming a proper corps of sea officers is, by 
 teaching them the naval tactics in a fleet of evo- 
 lution. To lessen the expense as much as possible, 
 I would compose that fleet of frigates instead of 
 ships of the line, on board of each I would have 
 a little academy, where the officers should be 
 taught the principles of mathematics and me- 
 chanics, when off duty . When in port, the young 
 officers should be obliged to attend the academics 
 
[90 THE LIFE 
 
 at each dock-yard, where they should 
 be taught the principles of every art and science 
 that is necessary to form the character of a great 
 sea officer. And every commission officer of the 
 navy should have free access and be entitled to 
 receive instruction gratis at those academies. All 
 this would be attended with no very great ex- 
 pense, and the public advantage resulting from it 
 would be immense. I am sensible it cannot be 
 immediately adopted, and that we must first look 
 about for ways and means; but the sooner it is 
 adopted the better. We cannot, like the an- 
 cients, build a fleet in a month, and we ought to 
 take example from what has lately befallen Hol- 
 land. In time of peace it is necessary to prepare, 
 and be always prepared for war by sea. I have 
 had the honour to be presented with copies of 
 the signals, tactics, and police, that have been 
 adopted under the different admirals of France 
 and Spain during the war, and have in my last 
 campaign seen them put in practice. While i 
 was at Brest, as well as while I was inspecting 
 the building of the America, as I had furnished 
 
PAUL JONES. 191 
 
 myself with good authors, I applied much of my 
 leisure time to the study of naval architecture, 
 and other matters that relate to the establishment 
 and police of dock-yards, &c I, however, feel my- 
 self bound to say again, I have yet much need to 
 be instructed." 
 
 Jones was not, however, destined to command 
 the America. The Magnifique, a seventy-four 
 belonging to the French fleet, was lost during the 
 autumn of 1782 in the harbour of Boston, and 
 Congress, being desirous of testifying to the 
 French king the sense they entertained " of his 
 generous exertions in behalf of the United States," 
 presented him with the America then finished. 
 Before other employment could be found for 
 Jones, the independence of the United States 
 was acknowledged by Great Britain. 
 
 At the end of the year 1783, Jones returned 
 to France, having been appointed by Congress 
 agent of America for European prize-money. 
 
; HE LI! 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 ! i. nch prize money — La Perouse — Madame dc T. — The 
 Algerines — Jones returns to America — Resolutions of Con 
 
 i >s — The sold medal — Letter of the American Congress 
 to the French King — Danish claim — Consequences of non- 
 recognition — Memorial of Dr. Franklin — Jones arrives at 
 Copenhagen. 
 
 Before Jones arrived in France, M. tie Sartine 
 had quitted his situation as minister of marine. 
 — This circumstance was by no means favour- 
 able to one of the principal objects of Jones's 
 mission, which was to obtain the residue of the 
 prize-money due from the court of France to the 
 last squadron which he had commanded. M. 
 Hoy de Chaumont, the naval commissary of that 
 squadron, who had already given the Americans 
 much trouble, did not neglect the opportunity 
 which the absence of M. de Sartine afforded him. 
 He insisted, that as the cost of the enterprize had 
 been defrayed by the treasury of Fiance, the dis- 
 tribution of the prize-money ought to be made in 
 
PAUL JONES. \9S 
 
 pursuance of the provisions of the ordinances of the 
 kingdom, and that a deduction ought accordingly 
 to be made of four denier s per livre for the bene- 
 fit of the Hospital of Invalids at Paris. 
 
 Jones, however, was not daunted by the objec- 
 tions of M. de Chaumont. He would correspond 
 with no one upon the subject except the Mare- 
 chal de Castries, the new minister of marine, him- 
 self. His letters to the minister were very 
 energetic and very frequent. " M. Chardon," 
 he writes to the Marechal, " has just now put 
 into my hands a letter written to your Excellency 
 by M. le Roy de Chaumont, dated at Passy, the 
 9th current. M. le Roy de Chaumont appears 
 by that letter to insinuate, that I was under his 
 orders. That insinuation merits nothing but my 
 contempt. He might as w T ell pretend that the 
 Marquis de la Fayette, with whom I had the 
 honour to be joined in command for an important 
 expedition, (which failed only through the unwise 
 confidence that had been placed in the secrecy of 
 M. Roy de Chaumont by the minister of marine,) 
 was also under his orders. For my own part, as 
 
 o 
 
UM THE LITE 
 
 1 had served with reputation in America from the 
 beginning of the war, and was, through Mr. 
 Franklin, in consequence of the high opinion the 
 minister had of my bravery and good conduct, &c. 
 invited by the government to remain in Europe to 
 command secret expeditions, with a force at the 
 expense of the king, but under the commission, 
 laws and flag of the United States, I made it a 
 condition that I should receive orders only from 
 the minister or ministers of Congress ; and while 
 I remained in Europe 1 never received any other. 
 I had, before that time, declined to accept a cap- 
 tain's commission in the royal navy, which Count 
 D'Orvilliers had offered to procure for me ; and 
 at any time, and in every situation, I would have 
 disdained to have prostituted my honour under 
 the orders of so light headed a man as M. le Roy 
 de Chaumont. He seems to claim also the idea 
 of intercepting the British Baltic fleet! 
 
 " M. le Roy de Chaumont seems to be igno- 
 rant that the American agent in Holland had, 
 and can have, no power whatever over the pro- 
 perty of the captors. It is a power which even 
 
P LUL JONES. . 19.5 
 
 Congress has not reserved, and which is contrary 
 to the established laws of the American navy. 
 As to deducting from the prize money four de- 
 niers per livre for the Hospital of Invalids at 
 Paris, because the expense of the armament I 
 commanded was taken out of the funds of the 
 royal navy ; I presume M. le Roy de Chaumont 
 might, with more modesty, have spared that obser- 
 vation to your Excellency. It is certain that the 
 government of France foresaw that an expense 
 would attend the armament I was so generously 
 invited to command under the laws and flag of 
 America, and it is not my place, much less that of 
 such a man as M. le Roy de Chaumont, to intrude 
 such pitiful observations as may militate against 
 or may diminish the value of such delicate acts of 
 friendship between two allied nations." 
 
 M. de Chaumont afterwards made some claim 
 for expenses incurred in maintaining the prison- 
 ers. Jones had been informed by Franklin, that 
 many of these prisioners had not been exchanged 
 by the court of France for American prisoners in 
 England. Jones writes to the Marechal, " I will 
 
 o2 
 
19() THE LIFE OF 
 
 not now complain, that the prisoners which I took 
 and carried into Holland were not exchanged for 
 Americans, who had been taken in war upon the 
 ocean, and were long confined in English dungeons 
 by civil magistrates, as traitors , pirates and felons. 
 I will only say, / had such a promise from the 
 minister of marine. It was all the reward I asked 
 for the anxious days and sleepless nights I passed, 
 and the many dangers I encountered, in the glad 
 hope of giving them all their liberty ; and, if I 
 had not been assured that Mr. Franklin had made 
 an unfailable arrangement with the courts of 
 France and England for their immediate redemp- 
 tion, nothing but a superior force should have 
 wrested them out of my hands till they had been 
 actually exchanged for the unhappy Americans in 
 England." 
 
 The claim of the four deniers was relinquished. 
 But the diligent M. de Chaumont soon founded 
 another cause of deduction on the score of the ex- 
 penses which had been incurred by the stay of the 
 squadron at the Texel. Jones wrote an eloquent 
 and most acute letter to the Marechal : his final 
 
PAUL JONES. 197 
 
 observation was unanswerable. " Permit me, my 
 lord, to conclude by saying, that no equal expense 
 in the war was made with so great effect, or had 
 such good consequences, as that made by the ships 
 I commanded in the Texel, since Holland was 
 thereby drawn into the war, without which the 
 world would not have been this day at peace." 
 
 No person ever possessed the faculty of ex- 
 tracting an answer from an unwilling minister in 
 greater perfection than Paul Jones. All diplo- 
 matic subterfuges sunk before his successful 
 ardour. In pursuing a grand object, it was his 
 precept that every one could assist, and the friends 
 of friends, and the acquaintances of acquaintances, 
 were enlisted in his service. He, himself, was 
 never absent when it was possible to meet with 
 the uncomplying party ; and letters, eloquent and 
 unanswerable, appealing to the justice of his re- 
 quest, the dignity of the granting party, or the 
 services of the petitioner, sought an access when 
 their writer could not personally enforce their 
 purport. The ladies of the court were always 
 enlisted in his favour, and plans for secret expe- 
 
THE l i i i : or 
 
 ditions, and applications for prize money, were 
 often supported by softer eloquence than usually 
 pleaded in the official audiences of Castries and 
 de Sartine. In the present instance, it appears 
 to have been very much the inclination of the 
 French minister to have withheld the object of 
 Jones's prayer, but " after two years wasted," and 
 " much expense of time and trouble," something 
 less than two hundred thousand livres were 
 obtained. 
 
 Jones writes to Mr. Jefferson in July, 1785, 
 " I have the honour to inclose and submit to your 
 consideration, the account I have stated of the 
 prize-money in my hands, with sundry papers 
 that regard the charges. I cannot bring myself 
 to lessen the dividend of the American captors 
 by making any charge either for my time or 
 trouble. I lament tl>at it has not yet been in my 
 power to procure for them, advantages as solid 
 and as extensive as the merit of their services. I 
 would not have undertaken this business from 
 any views of private emolument that could have 
 possibly resulted from it to myself 'even supposing 
 
PAUL JONES. V.)9 
 
 I bad recovered or should recover a sum more 
 considerable than tbe penalty of my bond. But 
 1 was anxious to force some ill natured persons to 
 acknowledge that, if they did not tell a wilful 
 falsehood, they were mistaken when tbey asserted 
 that I had commanded a squadron of privateers. 
 And, the war being over, I made it my first care 
 to shew the brave instruments of my success that 
 their rights are as dear to me as my own. It will, 
 I believe, be proper for me to make oath before 
 you to the amount charged for my ordinary ex- 
 penses. I flatter myself that you will find no ob- 
 jection to the account as I have stated it, and that 
 you are of opinion that, after this settlement has 
 been made between us, my bond ought to stand 
 cancelled as far as regards my transactions with 
 the court of France. Should any part of the prize- 
 money remain in the treasury, without being 
 claimed, after sufficient time shall be elapsed, I 
 beg leave to submit to you, to the treasury and to 
 Congress, whether I have not merited by my con- 
 duct since I returned to Europe that such 
 remainder should be disposed of in my favour?" 
 
200 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Dr. Franklin had resigned his situation as 
 minister plenipotentiary of the United States at 
 Paris in 1784, and had been succeeded by Mr. 
 Jefferson. Jones was unknown to this gentleman 
 on his arrival at Paris, but the minister soon 
 appreciated the quality of his mind, and it was not 
 long before their official communications were 
 changed into confidential correspondence. When 
 at L'Orient, in October, 1785, Mr. Jefferson had 
 written to Jones for information respecting the 
 expedition of discovery which "was then about to 
 sail under La Perouse. As the subject cannot 
 fail to be interesting to the reader, I shall give the 
 effect of Jones's inquiries, as contained in his 
 answer to the American minister. 
 
 " The following is the best information 1 am 
 able to give you, in compliance with the letter, 
 dated at Paris the 3d of August, 1785, which you 
 did me the honour to address me at L'Orient. 
 
 " The Boussole and the Astrolabe, two gabarts 
 of GOO tons each, sheathed with copper and 
 equipped in the best manner, sailed from Br< si 
 
paul jones. 201 
 
 the 1st of August, 1785, under the command of 
 M. de la Perouse and the Viscount de Langle, 
 captains in the royal navy. They had on board 
 a great variety of trees, plants and seeds, that suit 
 the climate of France ; manufactures in linen, 
 woollen and cotton, and in iron and copper, &c. 
 &c. ; mechanical tools of all sorts ; a great quan- 
 tity of trinkets and toys ; ploughs, and all sorts of 
 utensils and implements for agriculture, and a 
 quantity of unwrought iron. Each ship had on 
 board a large shallop in frames, and a million of 
 French livres in the coins of different nations. 
 Each ship had also on board twenty-one soldiers, 
 draughted from the two regiments at Brest, all of 
 whom were either mechanics or farmers. They 
 had on board no women ; nor any animals, except 
 such as appeared to be destined for the refresh- 
 ment of the crews. The crew of each ship is one 
 hundred men, including officers and men of 
 genius. The king himself planned the expedition, 
 and made out all the details with his own hand, 
 before he spoke a word of it to any person. His 
 
•) I THE LIFi; OF 
 
 majesty defrays the expense of it out of his pri- 
 vate coffer, and is his own minister in everything 
 that regards the operation of his plan. There is 
 no doubt but that the perfecting of the geography 
 of the southern hemisphere is one of his majesty's 
 objects in view : and it is not difficult to perceive, 
 that lie has others equally worthy the attention 
 of a great prince; one of which maybe, to extend 
 the commerce of his subjects by establishing fac- 
 tories, at a future day, for the fur trade, on the 
 north-west coast of America ; and another, to 
 establish colonies in New Holland, after having 
 well explored the coast, and made experiments 
 on the soil of that vast island, which is situated in 
 so happy a climate, and so contiguous to the esta- 
 blishments of France in the East Indies." 
 
 The following extract of a letter from Jones 
 to the same gentleman will perhaps prove inte- 
 resting. 
 
 " I am much obliged to you for the letter from 
 
 Madam T , which you forwarded by the June 
 
 i.et. I now take the liberty to inclose a letter 
 
PAUL JONES. 20o 
 
 for that worthy lady ; and, as I had not the hap- 
 piness to introduce you to her, (because I wished 
 her fortune to have been previously established,) 
 I shall now tell you, in confidence, that she is the 
 daughter of the late king, and of a lady of quality, 
 on whom his majesty bestowed a very large fortune 
 on his daughter's account. Unfortunately the 
 father died while the daughter (his great favourite) 
 was very young ; and the mother has never since 
 shewn her either justice or natural affection. She 
 was long the silent victim of that injustice; but I 
 had the pleasure to be instrumental in putting her 
 in a fair way to obtain redress. His present ma- 
 jesty received her last year with great kindness. 
 He gave her afterwards several particular audi- 
 ences, and said, * he charged himself with her 
 fortune.' Some things w r ere, as I have understood, 
 fixed on, that depended solely on the king, and 
 he said he would dictate the justice to be rendered 
 by the mother. But the letter you sent me, left 
 the feeling author all in tears ! Her friend, her 
 protectress, her introductress to the king was 
 
■1 j THE LIFE OF 
 
 suddenly dead ! She was in despair ! She lost 
 more than a mother ! A loss, indeed, that nothing 
 can repair; for fortune and favour are never to 
 be compared to tried friendship. I hope, how- 
 ever, she has gone to visit the king in July, 
 agreeable to his appointment given her in the 
 month of March. I am persuaded, that he would 
 receive her with additional kindness, and that her 
 loss would, in his mind, be a new claim to his pro- 
 tection ; especially as he well knows, and has ac- 
 knowledged, her superior merit and just preten- 
 sions. As I feel the greatest concern for the situ- 
 ation of this worthy lady, you will render me a 
 great favour by writing her a note, requesting her 
 to call on you, as you have something to commu- 
 nicate from me. When she comes, be so good as 
 to deliver the within letter, and shew her this, 
 that she may see both my confidence in you and 
 my advice to her." 
 
 Jones, at the latter end of the year 17o5, had 
 transmitted information to the American govern- 
 
PAUL JONES. 20.'"> 
 
 merit of the hostile designs of the Algerines 
 against the trade of the United States. A squa- 
 dron of eight vessels were destined by the regency 
 of Algiers to cruize from Cape St. Vincent to the 
 Azores, and capture American vessels. " This 
 event," said Jones, writing to Mr. Jefferson, 
 " may, I believe, surprize some of our fellow citi- 
 zens, but for my part, I am rather surprized that 
 it did not take place sooner. It will produce a 
 good effect if it unites the people of America in 
 measures consistent with their national honour 
 and interests, and rouses them from the ill 
 judged security which the intoxication of success 
 has produced since the revolution." 
 
 After having fulfilled the object of his mission 
 to France, it was the intention of Jones immedi- 
 ately to have negociated the liquidation of a large 
 claim preferred by Ins late squadron against the 
 court of Denmark. How this claim originated 
 we shall now mention ; for what reason Jones 
 postponed for a short time pursuing it, will be seen 
 in the following letter : 
 
lilR 1,1 FF. OF 
 
 To His Excellency John Jay, Esq. Minister of 
 Foreign Affairs. 
 
 " New York, July 18th, 1787. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " The application I made for a compen- 
 sation for our prizes through the Danish minister 
 in London not having succeeded, it was deter- 
 mined between Mr. Jefferson and myself, that the 
 proper method to obtain satisfaction was for me 
 to go in person to the court of Copenhagen. It 
 was necessary for me to see the Baron de Blome 
 before I could leave* France on that business, and 
 he being absent on a tour in Switzerland, did not 
 return to Paris till the beginning of last winter. 
 1 left Paris in the spring, and went as far as 
 Brussels on my way to Copenhagen, when an un- 
 forseen circumstance in my private affairs rendered 
 it indispensable for me to turn about and cross 
 the ocean. My private business here being 
 already finished, I shall in a few days re-embark 
 for Europe, in order to proceed to the court of 
 Denmark. It is my intention to go by the way of 
 
PAUL JONES. 207 
 
 Paris, in order to obtain a letter to the French 
 minister at Copenhagen from the Count de Mont- 
 morin, as the one I obtained is from the Count de 
 Vergennes. It would be highly flattering to me 
 if I could carry a letter with me from Congress to 
 his most Christian Majesty, thanking him for the 
 squadron he did us the honour to support under 
 our flag. And on this occasion, sir, permit me, 
 with becoming diffidence, to recal the attention of 
 my sovereign to the letter of recommendation I 
 brought with me from the court of France, dated 
 30th May, 1780. It would be pleasing to me if 
 that letter should be found to merit a place on 
 the journals of Congress. Permit me also to 
 entreat that Congress will be pleased to read the 
 letter I received from the minister of marine, when 
 his majesty deigned to bestow on me a golden 
 hiked sword, emblematical of the happy alliance, 
 an honour which his majesty never conferred on 
 any other foreign officer. I owed the high favour 
 I enjoyed at the court of France, in a great de- 
 gree, to the favourable testimony of my conduct 
 which had been communicated by his majesty's 
 
208 Til K LIFE OF 
 
 ambassador, under whose eye I acted in the most 
 critical situation, in the Texel, as well as to the 
 public opinion of Europe. And the letter with 
 which I was honoured by the prime minister of 
 France when I was about to return to America, is 
 a clear proof that we might have drawn still 
 greater advantages from the generous disposition 
 of our ally, if our marine had not been lost whilst 
 I was, under perplexing circumstances, detained 
 in Europe, after I had given the Count de Mau- 
 repas my plan for forming a combined squadron 
 of ten or twelve sail of frigates, supported by the 
 America, with a detachment of French troops on 
 board, the whole at the expense of his majesty. 
 
 " It is certain that I am much flattered by re- 
 ceiving a gold sword from the most illustrious 
 monarch now living, but I had refused to accept 
 his commission on two occasions before that time 
 when some firmness was necessary to resist the 
 temptation. He was not my sovereign, I served 
 the cause of freedom ; and honours from any sove- 
 reign would be more pleasing. Since the year 
 1775, when I displayed the American flag for the 
 
PAUL JONES. 209 
 
 first time, with my own hands, I have been con- 
 stantly devoted to the interests of America. 
 Foreigners have, perhaps, given me too much 
 credit, and this may have raised my ideas of my 
 services above their real value ; but my zeal can 
 never be over-rated. 
 
 " I should act inconsistently if I omitted to men- 
 tion the dreadful situation of our unhappy fellow- 
 citizens in slavery at Algiers. Their almost hope- 
 less fate is a deep reflection on our national cha- 
 racter in Europe. I beg leave to influence the 
 humanity of Congress in their behalf, and to pro- 
 pose that some expedient may be adopted for 
 their redemption. A fund might be raised for 
 that purpose by a duty of a shilling per month 
 from seamen's wages throughout the continent, 
 and I am persuaded that no difficulty would be 
 made to that requisition. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 Sir, &c. &c. 
 
 Paul Jones," 
 
 This letter was referred by the minister for 
 
 p 
 
210 THE LIFE OF 
 
 foreign affairs to the consideration of Congress, 
 
 who ordered that Mr. Jay should prepare a re- 
 port upon it. " As Congress," writes Jones 
 again to Mr. Jay, " have now referred back to 
 you, for your report, the chief part of the letter 
 which I had the honour to address to you the 
 18th of July last, I beg leave to observe on the 
 latter part of that letter, respecting the fund I 
 wished to see established for the redemption of 
 our fellow-citizens at Algiers, that I had also in 
 view at the time, a national establishment on the 
 plan of the Greenwich Hospital in England, or 
 Hotel des Invalides at Paris, which would be 
 effected from the residue of the increasing fund I 
 have proposed. I beg you therefore, sir, to take 
 notice of this in your report." 
 
 In a few days after this letter was written, an 
 unanimous resolution was passed by Congress, 
 " that a medal of gold should be struck and pre- 
 sented to the Chevalier J. Paul Jones, in comme- 
 moration of the valour and brilliant services of 
 that officer." And " the honourable Mr. Jeffer- 
 son, minister plenipotentiary of the United States 
 
PAUL JONES. -I I 
 
 at the Court of Versailles, was desired to have 
 the same executed with the proper devices." And 
 a Resolution was also passed, " That a letter be 
 written to his most Christian Majesty informing 
 him, that the United States in Congress assem- 
 bled had bestowed this medal upon the Cheva- 
 lier J. Paul Jones, as well in consideration of the 
 distinguished marks of approbation which his 
 majesty had been pleased to confer upon that 
 officer, as from a sense of his merits. And that 
 as it is his earnest desire to acquire greater know- 
 ledge in his profession, it would be acceptable to 
 Congress, that his majesty would be pleased to 
 permit him to embark with his fleets of evolution, 
 convinced that he can no where else acquire that 
 knowledge which may hereafter render him more 
 extensively useful. And the secretary for foreign 
 affairs was ordered to prepare a letter to be 
 signed by the president, and delivered to the 
 Chevalier Jones." 
 
 With all these " blushing honours" Jones once 
 more quitted America, with the following letter 
 to the King of France. 
 
 i> 2 
 
£L2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 To His Most Christian Majesty, Louis, King of 
 France and Navarre. 
 
 Great and beloved friend! 
 
 We, the United States in Congress 
 assembled, in consideration of the distinguished 
 marks of approbation with which your majesty 
 has been pleased to honour the Chevalier John 
 Paul Jones, as well as from a sense of his merit, 
 have unanimously directed a medal of gold to be 
 struck and presented to him, in commemoration 
 of his valour and brilliant services while com- 
 manding a squadron of French and American 
 ships, under our flag and commission, oft' the 
 coast of Great Britain, in the late war. 
 
 " As it is his earnest desire to acquire greater 
 knowledge in his profession, we cannot forbear 
 requesting of your majesty to permit him to em- 
 bark in your fleets of evolution, where only it will 
 be probably in his power to acquire that degree 
 of knowledge which may hereafter render him 
 more extensively useful. 
 
 " Pe> it us to repeat to your majesty, our sincere 
 
PAUL JOM>. 213 
 
 assurances, that the various and important benefits 
 for which we are indebted to your friendship will 
 never cease to interest us in whatever may con- 
 cern the happiness of your majesty, your family 
 and people. We pray God to keep you, our 
 great and beloved friend, under his holy protec- 
 tion. 
 
 " Done at the city of New York, the 16th 
 day of October, in the year of our Lord 
 1787, and of our Sovereignty and Inde- 
 pendence the 12th." 
 
 Jones's primary object on his return to Europe 
 was, to pursue the Danish claim. I shall enter 
 somewhat into detail respecting the nature of the 
 circumstances in which this claim originated ; for, 
 from the present aspect of the political horizon, 
 it is not improbable that the situation of the 
 United States in this transaction may be that of 
 many new governments now rising in other parts 
 of the vast continent of America. If, indeed, 
 they are similarly situated, it may not be unprofit- 
 able to them to be acquainted with the mode in 
 
2\ I THE LITE OF 
 
 which such an exigency was treated by the prac- 
 tical wisdom of Franklin. 
 
 In the autumn of 1779, two English prizes were 
 sent by Jones, then commanding the American 
 squadron, into the port of Berghen, in Norway. 
 These prizes were provided with " the munitions 
 of war and merchandize, and bore commissions 
 and letters of marque ;" and carried, one twenty- 
 two guns, and the other, twenty. They were of 
 considerable value, being estimated at not less 
 than one million of livres. The vessels had put 
 - into Berghen, on account of having experienced 
 very bad weather, and being very much injured, 
 and were manned with very small crews. The 
 American officer, who commanded these prizes, 
 brought written orders to the consul of France, 
 who was directed by M. de Sartine to grant to 
 the vessels and citizens of the United States the 
 same services and assistance as to his own proper 
 subjects. 
 
 The French consul immediately communicated 
 with the officers of the Danish government, repre- 
 sented to them the intentions of the king, his 
 
PAUL JONES. ~15 
 
 master, relative to the Americans, and solicited 
 that the same favour and protection should be 
 shewn to the tivo 2»'izes, as to vessels belonging 
 to French subjects. The vessels were allowed to 
 stay under protection of the forts until the recep- 
 tion of orders from the court of Copenhagen. 
 
 The King of Denmark had not yet recognized 
 the independence of the United States, but the 
 Americans had reason to believe, that the court 
 of Copenhagen, " following the example of many 
 other maritime powers, would not refuse admit- 
 tance, into its ports of Norway, to American 
 vessels and their captures ; and that the sale of 
 prizes would be admitted, or that they would not 
 notice it." 
 
 The two prizes in question were so weakly 
 manned, that their crews had not sufficient force 
 to work the ships, and it was therefore determined 
 by the captors, to obtain permission to sell them. 
 
 The English minister at Copenhagen imme- 
 diately demanded from the Danish government, 
 the restoration of the two prizes ; and, in spite 
 of the French protection, and the influence of the 
 
2 1<> THE LIFE OF 
 
 American agents, the King of Denmark granted 
 an order for the restoration of the two prizes. 
 
 M. De Chezaulx, the French consul at Ber- 
 ghen, wrote to Dr. Franklin immediately after 
 the receipt of this order, " an order unjust and 
 contrary to the rights of nations." 
 
 " We are, Sir, in the greatest consternation ; 
 as nothing was less expected than such an event. 
 I have the honour to forward you inclosed the 
 translation of this singular resolution, which has 
 been communicated to me, and what renders it 
 more surprising to me is, that M. Cailliarcl, charge 
 d'affaires of the king at Copenhagen, informed 
 me by his letter of the 9th instant, that he had 
 a conference with the Danish minister, but that 
 he had not been able to obtain the solicited per- 
 mission to sell the prizes, and that in consequence 
 they were ordered to repair to sea. We see, that 
 this minister had no knowledge of the resolution 
 of that court of the 2d October, as he makes no 
 mention of it. I remained always in the hope that, 
 by means of this negotiation, we might gain some 
 time, and that in the interval, the frigate Alliance, or 
 
PAUL JONES. 217 
 
 some other vessel belonging to Commodore Jones's 
 squadron, might arrive at this port, when we 
 should have been able to make arrangements 
 in order to reinforce the crews of these prizes, so 
 that they might have repaired to sea under con- 
 voy, or that I might at least have had time to 
 receive your orders, without which I could do 
 nothing, because by the written orders of Captain 
 Landais, to the officer commanding the prize, 
 they were ordered to bring them into Berghen. 
 I could take nothing on myself. 
 
 " When these prizes arrived in the river, I was 
 obliged to send them assistance, to work up to 
 the city ; and they could not in that situation 
 return to sea, in case the authorities here had re- 
 ceived orders to refuse them entrance into port. 
 We counted also on having time to receive your 
 orders, as I have already stated, for it was not 
 presumed that the court of Denmark would take 
 a resolution hostile to them ; that which I looked 
 for, could not have been even at the worst, but 
 an order for them to return to sea, on the founda- 
 
218 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tion of not having yet recognised the independ- 
 ence of the United States. 
 
 " I purpose to send you, sir, by the next courier, 
 a detailed memoir of my conduct in all that has 
 been done relative to these prizes. I have caused 
 your officers to protest against the violence which 
 has been offered them, and to demand all da- 
 mages and interests, in order that they might pro- 
 cure, in any way they thought best, a recompense for 
 their considerable loss, and the satisfaction due 
 to the United States. You will also receive, sir, 
 this protest in good and due form. 
 
 " I have done all in my power to retard the 
 operations of the Danish authorities, but could 
 effect nothing; they have taken formal possession 
 of the ships, their cargoes and their inventories, in 
 the name of the King of Denmark, and delivered 
 them to the English consul. I have required in 
 justice, the payment of the expenses, amounting 
 to 9(55 rix dollars, incurred on account of the said 
 ships and of their crews. We will see what will 
 be their decision. 
 
PAUL JONES. 219 
 
 " I have likewise demanded of the authorities, 
 that as they have broken up the American crews, 
 it was no more than justice, that they should 
 provide for their subsistence, their passage, and 
 to put them in a state to repair to their own 
 country, but I have been able to obtain nothing. 
 They leave to me the care of providing for them. 
 These crews occasion a great deal of expense, I 
 beg of you to inform me of your sentiments on 
 this subject. 
 
 " The value of the two prizes, which they have 
 so unjustly taken possession of, is at least ,£40,000 
 sterling, independent of expenses, and money 
 disbursed by M. Dankert d'Krohn, banker; an 
 account of which I will forward you. 
 
 " Time will shew us, sir, in what manner the 
 court of Denmark will recover from the false and 
 hazardous step which has been taken to the pre- 
 judice of the rights of man. There is perhaps a 
 secret convention between Denmark and England, 
 relative to American prizes ; however, nothing has 
 as yet transpired, and I am ignorant of it. 
 
 " The next courier will bring, perhaps, the same 
 
220 THE LIFE OI 
 
 order with regard to the prize the Charming 
 Polly ; I shall, however, use all my diligence to 
 enable her to depart before it comes to the hands 
 of the authorities, but there is now an appearance 
 that they are disposed to prevent it. I shall have 
 the honour to inform you, by the next courier, of 
 the above, and of every thing that may appear to 
 me to merit your attention. 
 
 " I have the honour, &c. 
 . " Dechezaulx. 
 "P. S. The English consul has no person to 
 put on board the vessels ; it will be necessary to 
 procure them from England. I do not think 
 they will be able to leave here before two, and 
 perhaps three, months. We must endeavour to 
 retake them." 
 
 Franklin immediately dispatched the following 
 letter to the Prime Minister of Denmark : 
 
 " Passy, near Paris, Dec. 22, 1779. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I have received letters from M. de 
 Chezaulx, consul of France at Bergen in Norway, 
 acquainting me that two ships, viz. the Betsy and 
 
PAUL JONES. 2f21 
 
 the Union, prizes taken from the English, on 
 their coast, by Captain Landais, commander of 
 the Alliance frigate, appertaining to the United 
 States of North America, which prizes having met 
 with bad weather at sea, that had damaged their 
 rigging and occasioned leaks, and being weakly 
 manned, had taken shelter in the supposed neu- 
 tral port of Bergen, in order to repair their da- 
 mages, procure an additional number of sailors, 
 and the necessary refreshments; that they were 
 in the said port enjoying, as they conceived, the 
 common rights of hospitality established and prac- 
 tised by civilized nations, under the care of the 
 abovesaid consul, when, on the 28th of October 
 last, the said ships, with their cargoes and papers, 
 were suddenly seized by the officers of his majesty 
 the King of Denmark, to whom the said port be- 
 longs, the American officers and seamen turned 
 out of their possession, and the whole delivered 
 to the English consul. 
 
 " M. de Chezaulx has also sent me the follow- 
 ing, as a translation of his majesty's order, by which 
 the above proceedings are said to be authorized, 
 
222 THE LIFE 
 
 viz. c The English minister having insisted on 
 the restitution of the two vessels captured by the 
 American frigate the Alliance, Captain Landais, 
 and which have been brought into Bergen, viz. 
 the Belsij of Liverpool, and the Union of London, 
 his majesty has granted the demand, on the 
 ground that he has not yet recognized the inde- 
 pendence of the colonies associated against Eng- 
 land, and because the vessels could not be con- 
 sidered as good and lawful prizes ; the two said 
 vessels are therefore declared free, and have liberty 
 to depart immediately with their cargoes.' 
 
 " By a subsequent letter from the same consul, 
 I am informed that a third prize, belonging to the 
 said United States, viz. the Charming Polly, 
 which arrived at Bergen after the others, had also 
 been seized and delivered up in the same manner, 
 and that all the people of the three vessels, being 
 thus stript of their property, (for every one of 
 them had an interest in the prizes,) were turned 
 on shore to shift for themselves, without money, in 
 a strange place, no provision being made for their 
 subsistence, or for sending them back to their 
 
PAUL JONES. 2£3 
 
 country. Permit me, sir, to observe, on this oc- 
 casion, that the United States of America have no 
 war but with the English. They have never done 
 any hostile acts to other nations, particularly none 
 to the Danish nation ; on the contrary, they are in 
 some degree its benefactors, as they have opened 
 a trade of which the English made a monopoly, 
 and of which the Danes may now have their 
 share, and by dividing the British empire, have 
 made it less dangerous to its neighbours. They 
 conceived, that every nation whom they had not 
 offended, was, by the rights of humanity, their 
 friends; they confided in the hospitality of Den- 
 mark, and thought themselves and their property 
 safe when under the roof of his Danish majesty. 
 But they find themselves stript of that property, 
 and the same given up to their enemies, on the 
 principle only that no acknowledgment had yet 
 been formally made by Denmark of the indepen- 
 dence of the United States, which is to say, that 
 there is no obligation of justice towards any na- 
 tion, with whom a treaty promising the same had 
 not been previously made. This was indeed the 
 
224 THE LIFE or 
 
 doctrine of ancient barbarians; a doctrine long 
 since exploded, and which it would not be for the 
 honour of the present age to revive ; and it is to 
 be hoped, that Denmark will not, by supporting 
 and persisting in this decision, obtained of his 
 majesty apparently by surprise, be the first mo- 
 dern nation that shall attempt to revive it.* 
 
 " I beg leave, through your excellency, to sub- 
 mit these considerations to the wisdom and justice 
 of his Danish majesty, whom I infinitely respect, 
 and who, I am persuaded, will consider and repeal 
 the order recited ; and if the prizes, which I here- 
 by reclaim in behalf of the United States of Ame- 
 rica, are not actually gone to England, they may 
 be stopt and redelivered to M. de Chezaulx, the 
 
 * Les anciens (says Vattel, in his excellent treatise entitled 
 " Le droit des gens,") ne se croyoient tenus a rien envers les 
 peuples qui ne leur etoient unis par un traite d'amitie : enrin 
 la voix de la nature se fit entendre aux peuples civilises; ils 
 reconnurent que tous les hommes etoient freres. An injustice 
 of the same kind, done a century or two since, by some Eng- 
 lish in the East Indies, Grotius tells us, " ne manquoit pas de 
 partisans, qui soutenoient que par les anciennes loix d'Angle- 
 terre ou ne punissoit point en ce royaume les outrages corn- 
 mis contre les etrangers quand il n'y point d'alliance con- 
 tracted avec eux." But this principle he condemns in the 
 strongest terms. Hist, des Troubles den Pays Bas.IAvre XVI. 
 
PAUL JONES. 225 
 
 said consul of France at Bergen, in whose care they 
 before were, with liberty to depart for America, 
 when the season shall permit : but if they shall be 
 already gone to England, I must then reclaim 
 from his majesty's equity the value of the said 
 three prizes, which is estimated at £50fiOO sterl- 
 ing, but which may be regulated by the best 
 information that can by any means be obtained. 
 
 (Signed) B. Franklin, 
 
 Minister Plenipotentiary, &c." 
 
 The commercial interests of the court of Den- 
 mark disinclined them from acting hostilely towards 
 the Americans; but the influence of the cabinet of 
 England could not be withstood, and the prime 
 minister of Denmark, deprecating, at the same 
 time, the line of policy he was forced to pursue, 
 and endeavouring to prevent extremities, sent the 
 following confidential letter to Dr. Franklin. It 
 is curious to see how studiously a prime minister 
 in distress will " divest himself of all public cha- 
 racter." 
 
226 THE I. IFF. OF 
 
 " Copenhagen, 8th March, 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " Were you a man less known and less 
 respected, I should have remained in doubt on 
 the subject of the letter, which I had the honour 
 to receive from you, and which did not arrive till 
 the olst of January. I should have looked upon 
 it as a step calculated to throw us again into a 
 new embarrassment, as painful as the former ; but 
 we can fear nothing, and risk nothing, with one so 
 wise as you, sir, generally respected throughout 
 that universe you have enlightened, and known 
 by that predominant love for truth, which charac- 
 terizes the great man, and the true philosopher. 
 These are titles which will pass your name to the 
 most distant posterity. I feel myself at this time 
 more particularly interested in writing to you, as 
 the situation of affairs requires me to divest myself 
 of all public character, and to aspire only to ap- 
 pear to you, as I really am, the firm friend of 
 peace, of truth, and of merit. This manner of 
 thinking shews not only my personal sentiments 
 towards yourself, but also those which I have re- 
 
PAUL JONES. 221 
 
 lating to the unfortunate affair, concerning which 
 you have been pleased to write me, and which, 
 from its commencement, has caused me the most 
 sensible pain. You will, without doubt, agree 
 with me, sir, that there are some situations in 
 which it is impossible to please everyone; you 
 are too just, sir, not to consider ours. Persons 
 would not remain satisfied in discovering, and 
 would never pardon those who lead them into 
 difficulties, if they did not sometimes provide oc- 
 casions of being heard, and of preventing, for the 
 future, all that might arise from such embarrass- 
 ments. The Baron de Blome will speak with you 
 on this subject, with the most entire confidence 
 and frankness, and if my wishes can be fulfilled, 
 I shall be amply recompensed for all my trouble. 
 There only remains to me the agreeable recollec- 
 tion of having had the satisfaction of assuring 
 you, from my own hand, of the high and perfect 
 esteem with which 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c 
 
 Bernstorf," 
 
 B.Franklin, Esq. 
 
 q2 
 
I >8 TUT. T.U 1 OF 
 
 The Baron tie Blome, with all his " entire con- 
 fidence and friendship," had, of course, nothing- 
 satisfactory to offer. Although the Danish mi- 
 nister was willing to satisfy the Americans, pro- 
 vided it cost him nothing, it was evident to the 
 American plenipotentiary that the demand of 
 his countrymen was not treated with that respect 
 which it would have obtained, had it been backed 
 by the threat of a fleet or an invasion. The ob- 
 servation of Franklin, upon this head, in a letter 
 to Count Bernstorf, is worthy of his profound and 
 venerable wisdom. 
 
 " The United States oppressed by, and in war 
 with, one of the most powerful nations in Europe, 
 may well be supposed incapable, in their present 
 infant state, of exacting justice from other nations 
 not disposed to grant it ; but it is in human na- 
 ture that injuries as well as benefits received in 
 times of weakness and distress, national as well 
 as personal, make deep and lasting impressions; 
 and those ministers are wise, who look into fu- 
 turity, and quench the first sparks of misunder- 
 standing between two nations, which, neglected, 
 
PAUL JONES. 229 
 
 may in lime grow into a flame, all the conse- 
 quences whereof no human prudence can foresee, 
 — which may produce much mischief to both, and 
 cannot possibly produce any good to either." 
 
 This, it must be confessed, is very admirable. 
 An ordinary diplomatist, in the situation of Frank' 
 lin, would have made a vain boast of instant ven- 
 geance, and would have been despised. Franklin 
 met the difficulty of his situation in a manner 
 worthy of a philosophical politician. He " looked 
 into futury," and conjuring up America in all the 
 plenitude of statistical prosperity, he met the 
 Danish minister on equal grounds, and threat- 
 ened not only retributive vengeance, but national 
 hatred. 
 
 The interests of an infant state are much 
 more dependent upon the conduct of its repre- 
 sentatives, than the interests of an ancient go- 
 vernment. In the first instance, the actions of 
 the representative are subject to the severest sus- 
 picion and the keenest scrutiny, because they are 
 considered the first indications of the present 
 temper and future conduct of the represented 
 
UoQ THE LITE OF 
 
 authority. But the conduct of the representative 
 of an old government is not the object of such 
 interest; for, in this case, we do not form our 
 general idea of the principles of the represented 
 authority from the conduct of the representative, 
 but from our knowledge of its history, and our 
 experience of its past policy; just as we treasure 
 up with anxiety the hap-hazard words of infancy, 
 and deduce from the chance-prattling of the child 
 the after-disposition of the man : while, on the 
 other hand, many a significant speech uttered by 
 a man passes unregarded, because our ideas, as 
 to his character and capability, are already 
 formed, and we associate him rather with his past 
 conduct than with his present promise. We 
 cannot, therefore, sufficiently admire the wisdom 
 of Franklin, who, while he vindicated the dignity 
 of his government, prevented its authority from 
 being insulted in the face of Europe; nor should 
 we withhold our tribute of applause from the 
 American officer, who refrained from punishing 
 his French coadjutor, that the English might not 
 suspect that there were divisions in " the common 
 cause." 
 
PAUL JONES. !^ol 
 
 But to return to the Danish court. When the 
 Independence of the American States was ac- 
 knowledged by the mother-country, the Danish 
 minister began to remember "how much it would 
 be for the interest of Denmark and America to 
 form, as speedily as possible, the strongest ties of 
 amity and commerce." For reasons which are 
 not very evident the Danish minister proceeded, 
 in a very oblique manner, to consummate this 
 much desired event. Count Rosencrone, the 
 Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, writes, at 
 the beginning of 1783, to M. de Waltersdorf: 
 
 " Knowing you were about to make a tour 
 through France, I could not refrain from strongly 
 recommending to you to endeavour to gain, during 
 your stay in Paris, as much as possible, the con- 
 fidence and esteem of Mr. Franklin. You may 
 remember, sir, what I mentioned to you, in our 
 conversations, concerning the high estimation in 
 which this minister was held by the ministers of 
 the king. You have been a witness of the satis- 
 faction with which we learned the glorious issue 
 of the war, for the United States of America, and 
 
2o2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 how much we are persuaded it would be for the 
 interest of both countries to form, as speedily as 
 possible, the strongest ties of amity and commerce. 
 Nothing certainly could be more agreeable to us, 
 than to learn by your letters, that you found the 
 same dispositions in Mr. Franklin; and then it 
 appears to me, the best method to accelerate this 
 new alliance would be to use, as a basis, the 
 treaty between Congress and the States General; 
 Mr. Franklin might then communicate to us his 
 ideas on the changes or additions which he be- 
 lieves to be reciprocally useful in the treaty of 
 commerce which Congress might form with us. 
 We would answer, with readiness and frankness, 
 to any overtures that might be made; and as soon 
 as the changes agreed upon should have met the 
 approbation of Congress, one of its accredited 
 ministers, already in Europe, in order to gain 
 time, might repair hither, with plenipotentiary 
 powers, in order to conclude the treaty, leaving, 
 on both sides, the more special articles for the 
 negociation of those ministers who might be ap- 
 pointed to reside in each country." 
 
PAUL JONES. '2oo 
 
 M . de Watevsdorf did not fail " to gain, during 
 his stay at Paris, as much as possible, the confi- 
 dence and esteem of Dr. Franklin;*' and the 
 American minister speedily communicated with 
 Count Rosencrone. 
 
 " M. Waltersdorf has communicated to me a 
 letter from your Excellency to him which affords 
 me great pleasure, as it expresses in clear and 
 strong terms the good disposition of your Court 
 to form connexions of friendship and commerce 
 with the United States of America. J am con- 
 fident that the same good disposition will be found 
 in the Congress, and having acquainted that re- 
 spectable body with the purport of your letter, I 
 expect a commission will soon be sent appointing 
 some person in Europe, to enter into a treaty 
 with his majesty the King of Denmark for the 
 purposes desired. In the meantime, to prepare 
 and forward the business as much as may be, I 
 send for your Excellency's consideration such a 
 sketch as you mentioned, formed on the base of 
 our treaty with Holland, on which I shall be glad 
 to receive your Excellency's sentiments. And I 
 
£34 THE LIFE OF 
 
 hope that this transaction when completed may 
 be the means of producing and securing a long 
 and happy friendship between our two nations. 
 
 " To smooth the way for obtaining this desira- 
 ble end, as well as to comply with my duty, it 
 becomes necessary for me on this occasion, to 
 mention to your excellency, the affair of our three 
 prizes, which, having during the war entered 
 Bergen as a friendly and neutral port, where they 
 might repair the damages they had suffered, and 
 procure provisions, were, by an order of your pre- 
 decessor in the office you so honourably fill, vio- 
 lently seized and delivered to our enemies. I am 
 inclined to think it was an hasty act, procured by 
 the importunities and misrepresentations of the 
 British minister, and that your court could not 
 on reflexion approve of it. But the injury was 
 done, and I flatter myself that your Excellency 
 will think with me that it ought to be repaired. 
 The means and manner I beg leave to recommend 
 to your Excellency's consideration." 
 
 Franklin's receipt " to smooth the way" seems 
 to have produced a very contrary effect ; for the 
 
PAUL JONES. t>35 
 
 Danish minister was quite frightened at the very 
 mention of the subject, and the formation between 
 the two countries of the strongest ties of amity 
 and commerce seems to have been postponed, 
 sine die. 
 
 In 1785, Jones, in virtue of the general autho- 
 rity with which he had been invested, to collect 
 all the European prize-money due to Ame- 
 ric *'s, turned his attention to the reclamation 
 from Denmark of the value of the ships sent into 
 Bergen. The Baron de Waltersdorf was then 
 the Danish minister to the court of London, and 
 Jones, having reason to believe that his object 
 might be accomplished by an application to that 
 minister, endeavoured, through the medium of 
 Mr. Adams, the American minister in England, 
 to obtain a favourable decision from that noble- 
 man. Before the letter arrived, De Walterdorf 
 had sailed for the West Indies, and Mr. Adams 
 advised Jones " to apply to the Danish minister 
 at the court of France, for the foreign ministers 
 at the court of Versailles have less weight upon 
 their spirits, in all things relating to America, than 
 
236 THE LIFE OF 
 
 those of London. Cash, I fancy, is not an abun- 
 dant article in Denmark, and your claim has pro- 
 bably delayed or suspended all negotiations with 
 Mr. Jefferson and me respecting a commercial 
 treaty, for which, three years ago, there was no 
 little zeal. This, however, is only conjecture in 
 confidence." 
 
 In this year, Jones had his bust taken by 
 Houdon. " I received the kind note," he writes 
 to Mr. Jefferson, " which you wrote me this morn- 
 ing on the occasion of receiving my bust. I 
 offered it to you as a mark of my esteem and respect 
 for your virtues and talents. It has been remarked 
 by professed judges, that it does no discredit to 
 the talent of M. Houdon, but it receives its value 
 from your acceptance of it, with the assurance 
 you give me of your particular esteem." 
 
 On the receipt of a letter from Mr. Adams, 
 illness alone prevented Jones from immediately 
 proceeding to Copenhagen ; and at length, with 
 a great number of letters of introduction from the 
 first French nobility, with a special commission 
 from Mr. Jefferson and some MS. notes by that 
 
PAUL JONES. ^,J7 
 
 gentleman, on the laws of nations, and plentiful 
 quotations from Grotius and Vattel, Jones set off 
 for the capital of Denmark. His health, how- 
 ever, was very feeble, and indeed about this time, 
 he complains almost constantly of indisposition. 
 
 He arrived at Copenhagen in March, 1788, 
 and soon wrote to Mr. Jefferson. 
 
 " I have been so much, indisposed, since my 
 arrival here the 4th, from the fatigue and exces- 
 sive cold I suffered on the road, that I have been 
 obliged to confine myself almost constantly to my 
 chamber. I have kept my bed for several days ; 
 but I now feel myself better, and hope the danger 
 is over. On my arrival, I paid my respects to 
 the minister of France. He received me with great 
 kindness ; we went, five days ago, to the minister 
 of foreign affairs. I was much flattered with my 
 reception, and our conversation was long and very 
 particular respecting America and the new con- 
 stitution, of which I presented a copy. He ob- 
 served, that it had struck him as a very dangerous 
 power to make the president commander-in-chief: 
 in other respects it appeared to please him much, 
 
238 THE LIFE O] 
 
 as leading to a near and sure treaty of commerce 
 between America and Denmark. It was a day 
 of public business, and I could not do more than 
 present your letter. I shall follow the business 
 closely. In a few days, when I am re-established 
 in health, I am to be presented to the whole court, 
 and to sup with the king. I shall after that be 
 presented to all the corps diplomatique and other 
 persons of distinction here ; I am infinitely in- 
 debted to the attentions I receive from the 
 minister of France. I made the inquiry you de- 
 sired in Holland, and should then have written 
 to you in consequence, had I not been assured, 
 by authority (M. Van Stophorst) that I could 
 not doubt, that letters had been sent you on the 
 subject, that could not fail of giving your satis- 
 faction. M. Van Stophorst was very obliging. 
 At Hamburg I ordered the smoked beef you 
 desired to be sent to you, to the care of the 
 American agent at Havre de Grace; you have 
 nothing to do but receive it, paying what little 
 charges may be on it. My ill health and fatigue 
 on the road hindered me from preparing the ex- 
 
PAUL JONES. '.?;]!) 
 
 tract of the engagement. When you see INT. 
 Littlepage I pray you to present my kind com- 
 pliments. It is said here, that the empress con- 
 fides the commerce of her fleet, that will pass the 
 Sound, to Admiral Greg ; and, that he means to 
 call at an English port, to take provisions, &c. 
 The Hamburg papers, I am told, have announced 
 the death of Dr. Franklin. I shall be extremely 
 concerned if the account prove true — God forbid!" 
 
 On the 18th of the same month he again wrote 
 to the same minister. 
 
 " Yesterday, his excellency the Baron de La 
 Houge, minister plenipotentiary of France at this 
 court, did me the honour to present me publicly 
 to his majesty, the royal family and chief person- 
 ages at the royal palace here. 
 
 " I had a very polite and distinguished reception. 
 The queen dowager conversed with me for some 
 time, and said the most civil things. Her majesty 
 has a dignity of person and deportment, which 
 becomes her well, and which she has the secret 
 to reconcile with great affability and ease. The 
 
£40 THE LIFE 01 
 
 princess royal is a charming person, and the 
 graces are so much her own, that it is impossible 
 to see and converse with her without paying her 
 that homage which artless beauty and good nature 
 will ever command. All t]ie royal family spoke 
 to me except the king, who speaks to no person 
 when presented. His majesty saluted me with great 
 complaisance at first, and as often afterwards as 
 we met in the course of the evening. The 
 prince royal is greatly beloved and extremely affa- 
 ble ; he asked me a number of pertinent questions 
 respecting America. I had the honour to be invited 
 to sup with his majesty and the royal family. 
 The company at table (consisting of seventy ladies 
 and gentlemen, including the royal family, the 
 ministers of state and foreign ambassadors) 
 was very brilliant. The death of Dr. Franklin 
 seems to be generally believed. Every person I 
 have spoken with at court laments the event as a 
 misfortune to human nature. I have had a second 
 conference with the minister of foreign affairs, 
 but nothing is yet done. T will press him to con- 
 
PAUL JONES. 241 
 
 elude. In my last, I find I have put down as the 
 third number 1205, instead of 1250.* I hope I 
 have committed no other error ; but I am so con- 
 tinually feasted, and have so many visits to pay and 
 receive, that I have scarcely a moment to call my 
 own, and the departure of the post does not now 
 afford me the time necessary to compare the 
 whole of my last." 
 
 Paul Jones to Mr. Jefferson. 
 
 " Copenhagen, March 20th, 1788. 
 " I embrace the occasion of a young 
 gentleman, just arrived here express from St. 
 Petersburg, and who sets out immediately express 
 for Paris, to transmit you the foregoing copy of my 
 last of the 18th. I have written to Norway, and 
 expect a satisfactory answer. The minister of 
 France is surprized to have had no orders from 
 Versailles respecting me, I pray you, and so does 
 he, to push that point immediately. The minister 
 
 * The correspondence was carried on in a cypher. 
 R 
 
242 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of foreign affairs will receive me on Saturday. 
 Please to present my kind compliments to Little- 
 page. If there is anything new from that quarter, 
 you will no doubt communicate it." 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 " Copenhagen, March 25th, 1788- 
 " I propose to send the present, under 
 cover, to Messrs. Nicholas and Jacob van Stap- 
 horst of Amsterdam ; presuming you may be 
 there by the time they will receive it. If you are 
 not arrived, or fully expected to arrive there in a 
 day or two, they will be requested to forward you 
 my letter. My mission here is not yet at an end, 
 but the minister has promised to determine soon, 
 and I have written to claim that promise. Before 
 you can receive this, Monsieur de Simolin will 
 have informed you, that your proposal to him 
 and his application on that idea have been well 
 received. The matter is communicated to me 
 here in the most flattering expressions, by a letter 
 I have received from his excellency the Baron de 
 
PAUL JONES. 243 
 
 Krudenev. There seems, however, to remain 
 some difficulty respecting the letter of Monsieur 
 de Simolin's proposal, though it is accepted in 
 substance, with an appearance of great satisfac- 
 tion. I find myself under the necessity of setting 
 out for Petersburg, through Sweden, in a few 
 days, instead of returning first, as was my wish 
 and intention, to Paris. I hope in the meantime 
 to receive a satisfactory answer, which I shall 
 duly communicate to you. Your future letters 
 for me you will please to send under cover to the 
 minister of France at Petersburg, or rather 
 deliver them to Monsieur de Simolin, to whom I 
 tender my sincere and respectful thanks for his 
 good offices ; which I shall ever remember with 
 pleasure and gratitude, and which I shall always 
 be ambitious to merit. I esteem myself also much 
 indebted to Mr. Littlepage, and I hope I may 
 one day convince him how sensible I am of his 
 friendly behaviour. I say nothing, at present, of 
 your attachment, but my feelings do you justice." 
 The business particularly alluded to in this last 
 letter, and for which Jones expresses himself so 
 
 r2 
 
2 ! I THE LIFE OF 
 
 gratefully, was a negociation which was then taking 
 place, between M. de Simolin the Russian minis- 
 ter at Paris, and Mr. Jefferson, for the admission 
 of Jones into the Russian naval service. The 
 celebrated Catherine of Russia had invited the 
 American commander to her capital with the 
 most splendid promises of patronage. Mr. 
 Jefferson originally proposed this plan to Jones, 
 and the American minister was extremely anxious 
 that his friend should accept his proposal. 
 
 The Danish government had pleaded in answer, 
 to Jones's demand, the imperfection of his diplo- 
 matic powers. 
 
 Paid Jones to Count Bernstorf. 
 
 "Copenhagen, March 24th, 1788. 
 
 " From the act of Congress (the act by 
 which I am honoured with a gold medal) I had 
 the honour to shew your Excellency the 21st. of 
 this month, as well as from the conversation that 
 followed, you must be convinced that circum- 
 
PAUL JONES. 245 
 
 stances do not permit me to remain here ; but that 
 L am under the necessity, either to return to France 
 or to proceed to Russia.— As the minister of the 
 United States of America at Paris gave me the 
 perusal of the packet he wrote by me, and which 
 I had the honour to present to you on my arrival 
 here, it is needless to go into any detail on the 
 object of my mission to this court; which Mr. 
 Jefferson has particularly explained. The pro- 
 mise you have given me, of a prompt and explicit 
 decision, from this court, on the act of Congress 
 of the 25th of October last, inspires me with full 
 confidence. I have been very particular in com- 
 municating to the United States, all the polite at- 
 tentions with which I have heen honoured at this 
 court; and they will learn with great pleasure 
 the kind reception I had from you I felicitated 
 myself on being the instrument to settle the 
 delicate national business in question, with a mi- 
 nister who conciliates the views of the wise states- 
 man with the noble sentiments and cultivated 
 mind of the true philosopher and man of letters," 
 
246 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Paul Jones to Count Bernstorf. 
 
 "Copenhagen, March 30th, 1788. 
 
 " Your silence on the subject of my 
 mission from the United States to this court, 
 leaves me in the most painful suspense; the more 
 so, as I have made your Excellency acquainted 
 with the promise I am under to proceed as soon 
 as possible to St. Petersburg. This being the 
 ninth year, since the three prizes reclaimed by the 
 United States were seized upon in the port of 
 Bergen, in Norway, it is to be presumed, that 
 this court has long since taken an ultimate reso- 
 lution respecting the compensation demand made 
 by Congress. Though I am extremely sensible 
 of the favourable reception with which I have 
 been distinguished at this court, and am par- 
 ticularly flattered by the polite attentions with 
 which you have honoured me at every confe- 
 rence; yet I have remarked, with great concern, 
 that you have never led the conversation to the 
 object of my mission here. A man of your liberal 
 
PAUL JONES. 247 
 
 sentiments will not, therefore, be surprized, or of- 
 fended at my plain dealing, when I repeat that I 
 mpatiently expect a prompt and categorical an- 
 swer, in writing, from this court, to the act of Con- 
 gress of the 25th of October last. Both my duty 
 and the circumstances of my situation, constrain 
 me to make this demand in the name of my 
 Sovereign the United States of America; but I 
 beseech you believe, that though I am extremely 
 tenacious of the honor of the American flag, yet 
 my personal interest in the decision I now ask 
 would never have induced me to present myself 
 at this court. You are too. just, sir, to delay my 
 business here; which would put me under the 
 necessity to break the promise I have made 
 to her Imperial Majesty, conformable to your ad- 
 
 vice. 
 
 Count Bernstorf to Paul Jones. 
 
 " Copenhagen, April 4th, 1788. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " You have requested of me an answer 
 to the letter you did me the honour to remit me 
 
348 THE LIFE OF 
 
 from Mr. Jefferson, minister plenipotentiary of 
 the United States of America, near his most 
 Christian Majesty. I do it with so much more 
 pleasure, as you have inspired me with as much 
 interest as confidence, and this occasion appears 
 to me favourable to make known the sentiments 
 of the king my master, on the objects to which we 
 attach so much importance. Nothing can be 
 farther from the plans and the wishes of his 
 majesty than to let fall a negociation, which has 
 only been suspended in consequence of circum- 
 stances arising from the necessity of maturing a 
 new situation, so as to enlighten himself on their 
 reciprocal interests, and to avoid the inconvenience 
 of a precipitate and imperfect arrangement. I 
 am authorized, sir, to give you, and through you 
 to Mr. Jefferson, the word of the king, that his 
 majesty will renew the negociation for a treaty of 
 amity and commerce in the forms already agreed 
 upon, at the instant that the new Constitution 
 (that admirable plan, so worthy of the wisdom of 
 the most enlightened men) will have been 
 adopted by the states, to which nothing more was 
 
PAUL JONES. 249 
 
 wanted to assure to itself a perfect consideration. 
 If it has not been possible, sir, to discuss, defini- 
 tively with you, neither the principal object nor 
 its accessaries, the idea of eluding the question, 
 or of retarding the decision, had not the least 
 part in it. I have already had the honour to ex- 
 press to you, in our conversations, that your want 
 of plenipotentiary powers from Congress, was a 
 natural and invincible obstacle. It would be, 
 likewise, contrary to the established custom, to 
 change the seat of negociation, which has not 
 been broken off, but only suspended, thereby to 
 transfer it from Paris to Copenhagen. 
 
 " I have only one more favour to ask of you, 
 sir, that you would be the interpreter of our senti- 
 ments in regard to the United States. It would 
 be a source of gratification to me to think, that 
 what I have said to you on this subject carries 
 with it that conviction of the truth which it 
 merits. We desire to form with them, connec- 
 tions, solid, useful, and essential ; we wish to esta- 
 blish them on bases natural and immoveable. 
 The momentary clouds, the incertitudes, which 
 
250 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the misfortunes of the times brought with them, 
 exist no longer. We should no longer recollect 
 it, but to feel in a more lively manner the happi- 
 ness of a more fortunate period ; and to shew our- 
 selves more eager to prove the dispositions most 
 proper to effect an union, and to procure reci- 
 procally the advantages which a sincere alliance 
 can afford, and of which the two countries are 
 susceptible. These are the sentiments which, I 
 can promise you, sir, on our part, and we flatter 
 ourselves to find them likewise in America ; no- 
 thing, then, can retard the conclusion of an 
 arrangement, which I am happy to see so far ad- 
 vanced." 
 
 Paul Jones to Count Bernstorf. 
 
 " Copenhagen, April 5th, 1788. 
 " I pray your Excellency to inform me 
 when I can have the honour to wait on you, to 
 receive the letter you have been kind enough to 
 promise to write me, in answer to the act of Con- 
 gress of the 25th October last. As you have told 
 
PAUL JONES. 251 
 
 me that my want of plenipotentiary powers to ter- 
 minate ultimately the business now on the carpet, 
 between the court and the United States, has de- 
 termined you to authorize the Baron de Blome 
 to nesociate and settle the same with Mr. JefTer- 
 son at Paris, and to conclude, at the same time, 
 an advantageous treaty of commerce between 
 Denmark and the United States ; my business 
 here will of course be at an end, when 1 shall 
 have received your letter, and paid you my thanks 
 in person, for the very polite attentions with which 
 you have honoured me." 
 
 Paul Jones to Mr. Jefferson. 
 
 " Copenhagen, April 8th, 1778. 
 " By my letters to the Count de Bern- 
 storf, and his Excellency's answer, you see that 
 my business here is at an end. If I have not 
 finally concluded the object of my mission it is 
 neither your fault nor mine. The powers I re- 
 ceived are found insufficient, and you could 
 not act otherwise than was prescribed in your in- 
 
t252 THE LIFE OF 
 
 structions. Thus it frequently happens, that 
 good opportunities are lost, when the supreme 
 power does not place a sufficient confidence in 
 the distant operations of public officers, whether 
 civil or military. I have, however, the melan- 
 choly satisfaction to reflect, that I have been 
 received and treated here with a distinction far 
 above the pretensions of my public mission, and I 
 felicitate myself sincerely on being, at my own ex- 
 pense, and even at the peril of my life, (for my 
 sufferings from the inclemency of the weather, 
 and my want of proper means to guard against it 
 on the journey, were inexpressible ; and I believe, 
 from what I yet feel, will continue to affect my 
 constitution,) the instrument to renew the negoci- 
 ation between this country and the United States, 
 the more so, as the honour is now reserved for 
 you, to display your great abilities and integrity, 
 by the completion and improvement of what Dr. 
 Franklin had wisely begun. I have done, then, 
 what perhaps no other person would have under- 
 taken under the same circumstances ; and while 
 1 have the consolation to hope, that the United 
 
PAUL JONES. 253 
 
 States will derive solid advantages from my journey 
 and efforts here, I rest perfectly satisfied, that the 
 interests of the brave men I commanded will ex- 
 perience your parental attention, and that the 
 American flag can lose none of its lustre, but the 
 contrary, while its honour is confided to you. 
 America being a young nation, with an increasing 
 commerce, which will naturally create a navy, I 
 please myself with the hope, that in the treaty you 
 are about to conclude with Denmark, you will 
 find it easy and highly advantageous to include 
 certain articles for admitting America into the 
 armed neutrality. I persuade myself before hand, 
 that this would afford pleasure to the Empress of 
 Russia, who is at the head of that noble and 
 humane combination ; and as I shall now set out 
 immediately for St. Petersburgh, I will mention 
 the idea to her Imperial Majesty, and let you know 
 her answer. 
 
 " If Congress should think I deserve the pro- 
 motion, that was proposed when I was last in 
 America, and should condescend to confer on me 
 the grade of rear-admiral from the day I took the 
 
254 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Serapis (23d Sept. 1779), I am persuaded it would 
 be very agreeable to the Empress, who now deigns 
 to offer me an equal rank in her service, although 
 I never yet had the honour to draw my sword in 
 her cause, nor to do any other act that could 
 directly merit her imperial benevolence. While 
 I express, in the warm effusion of a grateful heart, 
 the deep sense I feel of my eternal obligation to 
 you, as the author of the honourable prospect that 
 is now before me, I must rely on your friendship to 
 justify to the United States the important step I 
 now take, conformable to your advice. You know 
 that I had no idea of this new fortune, when I 
 found that you had put it in train, before my last 
 return to Paris from America. I have not for- 
 saken a country that has had many disinterested 
 and difficult proofs of my steady affection ; and I 
 can never renounce the glorious title of a citizen 
 of the United States. 
 
 " It is true I have not the express permission 
 of the Sovereignty to accept the offer of her Im- 
 perial Majesty ; yet America is independent, is in 
 perfect peace, and has no public employment for 
 
PAUL JONES. 255 
 
 my military talents. But why should I excuse a 
 conduct which I should rather hope would meet 
 with general approbation? In the latter part of 
 the year 1782, Congress passed an act for my 
 embarkation in the fleet of his Most Christian 
 Majesty. And when, a few months ago, I left 
 America to return to Europe, I was made the 
 bearer of a letter to his Most Christian Majesty, 
 requesting me to be permitted to embark in the 
 fleets of evolution. Why did Congress pass 
 those acts ? to facilitate my improvement in 
 the art of conducting fleets and military ope- 
 rations. I am then conforming myself to the 
 views of Congress, but the roll allotted me is in- 
 finitely more high and difficult than Congress 
 intended. Instead of receiving lessons from able 
 masters in the theory of war, I am called to imme- 
 diate practice, when I must command in chief, 
 conduct the most difficult operations, be my own 
 preceptor and instruct others. Congress will 
 allow me some merit in daring to encounter such 
 multiplied difficulties. The mark I mentioned of 
 the approbation of that honourable body would 
 
256 THE LIFE OF 
 
 be extremely flattering to me in the career I am 
 now to pursue, and would stimulate all my ambition 
 to acquire the necessary talents to merit that and 
 even greater favours at a future day. I pray you, 
 sir, to explain the circumstances of my situation, 
 and be the interpreter of my sentiments to the 
 United States in Congress. I ask for nothing, 
 and beg leave to be understood only as having 
 hinted, what is natural to conceive, that the mark 
 of approbation I mentioned could not fail to be 
 infinitely serviceable to my views and success in 
 the country where I am going. 
 
 " The 4th the Prince Royal sent me a messen- 
 ger requesting me to come to his apartment. His 
 royal highness said a great many civil things to 
 me ; told me the king thanked me for my attention 
 and civil behaviour to the Danish flag, while I 
 commanded in the European seas ; and that his 
 majesty wished for occasions to testify to me his 
 personal esteem, &c. I was alone with the prince 
 half an hour." 
 
o 
 
 PAUL JONES. :>.)< 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Jones arrives at St. Petersburg — Is appointed to the command 
 of a division of the Liman Fleet. — Engagement with the 
 Turks. — Invested with the order of St. Anne — Victory over 
 the Turks. — Returns to St. Petersburg — His plans — Political 
 intrigues — Returns to France, and dies. 
 
 When Paul Jones accepted the proposal of 
 the Empress Catherine, the Russians were at war 
 with the Turks. In his interview with the Em- 
 press, the only stipulation that Jones made was 
 " that he should not be condemned unheard." 
 So expeditious was he in his movements, that we' 
 find him, in the month of June, 1788, writing to 
 the Marquis de La Fayette from on board a Rus- 
 sian man of war in the Liman sea. 
 
 " On Board the Imperial Ship Wolodimer, 
 
 at anchor in the Liman sea, before Oczacoff. 
 
 June 15 (26), 1788. 
 
 " My Dear General 
 and Dear Friend. 
 
 " The kind letter you did me the honour 
 to write to me on the 20th April was delivered to 
 
 s 
 
258 THE LIFE OF 
 
 me at St. Elizabeth, on my way here from St. 
 Petersburg. It was very flattering for me to re- 
 ceive such a letter from a man I so much love and 
 respect as I do and have long done the Marquis de 
 La Fayette. You will yourself do justice to my sen- 
 sibility for all your good offices and good inten- 
 tions ; so I need only say, I shall always be ambi- 
 tious to merit the flattering compliment with which 
 you honour me me by subscribing yourself my 
 ' sincere friend.' 
 
 " I must tell you that Mr. Elliot (the same who 
 fetched Dr. Lee's papers at Berlin) was furious 
 when he found my business at Copenhagen; and 
 that I was received with great distinction at court, 
 and in all the best societies in Denmark. Every 
 time I was invited to sup with the king, Elliot 
 made an apology ; he shut himself up for more than 
 a month, and then left town. This occasioned 
 much laughter: and, as he had shunned society 
 from the time of my arrival, people said he had 
 gone off in a fright I I hope Mr. Jefferson is satis- 
 fied with the train in which I left the Danish busi- 
 ness. It would have been impossible for me to 
 
PAUL JONES. 259 
 
 have pushed it any farther, as I had not full 
 power to conclude it finally. 
 
 " I went through Sweden to St. Petersburg 
 The advanced season did not permit me to return 
 to Paris; the distance would have been too long 
 through Germany; and Elliot had influenced the 
 English to put difficulties in the way of my pas- 
 sage by the Baltic. I found the gulph of Bothnia 
 barred with ice, and after making several fruitless 
 attempts to cross it in a small open boat (about 
 30 feet long), I compelled the Swedish peasants 
 to steer, as I directed them, for the gulph of Fin- 
 land. After about 400 or 500 miles navigation I 
 landed at Revel, and having paid the peasants to 
 their satisfaction, I gave them a good pilot, with 
 some provisions, to reconduct them to their home. 
 My voyage was looked on as a kind of miracle, 
 being what never had been attempted before, un- 
 less in large vessels. 
 
 " The Empress received me with a distinction 
 the most flattering that perhaps any stranger can 
 boast of on entering into the Russian service. 
 Her majesty conferred on me immediately the 
 
 s c > 
 
260 tiii: LIFE OF 
 
 grade of rear-admiral. I was detained against my 
 will a fortnight; and continually feasted at court 
 and in the first society. This was a cruel grief 
 to the English, and I own their vexation, which I 
 believe was general in and about St. Petersburg, 
 gave me no pain. 
 
 " I presented the Empress with a copy of the 
 new American constitution. Her majesty spoke 
 to me often about the United States, and is per- 
 suaded that the American revolution cannot fail to 
 bring about others, and to influence every other 
 government. I mentioned the armed neutrality, 
 so honourably patronized by her majesty, and I 
 am persuaded that no difficulty will be made 
 about admitting the United States into that illus- 
 trious association, as soon as America shall have 
 built some ships of war. I spoke of it to the 
 Danish minister of foreign affairs, who seemed 
 pleased with the idea. The United States have 
 some commerce with Russia, which, perhaps, we 
 may be able to increase. I should think whale 
 oil, dried fish, spermaceti and rice, may be articles 
 to suit the Russian market. If the Mediterranean 
 
PAUL JONES. „ 2G\ 
 
 was not shut to the American flag, many articles 
 might be supplied to the Russian fleet now des- 
 tined for the Archipelago, I* certainly wish to be 
 useful to a country I have so long served. I love 
 the people and their cause, and shall always re- 
 joice when I can be useful to promote their hap- 
 piness. I am glad that the new constitution will 
 be, as you tell me, adopted by more than nine 
 states. I hope, however, they will alter some 
 parts of it ; and particularly that they will divest 
 the president of all military rank and command : 
 for though General Washington might be safely 
 trusted with such tempting power as the chief 
 command of the fleet and army, yet depend on it, 
 in some other hands it could not fail to overset 
 the liberties of America. 
 
 " The president should be only the first civil 
 magistrate ; let him command the military with 
 the pen, but deprive him of the power to draw his 
 sword and lead them, under some plausible pre- 
 text, or under any circumstances whatever, to cut 
 the throats of a part of their fellow-citizens, and 
 make him the tyrant of the rest. These are not 
 
262 THE LIFE OF 
 
 my apprehensions alone, for I have mentioned 
 them to many men of sense and learning since I 
 saw you, and I have found them all of the same 
 sentiment. 
 
 " What are you about, my dear general? are you 
 so absorbed in politics as to be insensible to glory? 
 That is impossible : quit then your divine Calypso, 
 come here, and pay your court once more to Bel- 
 lona, who you are sure will receive you as her 
 favourite. You would be charmed with the 
 Prince de Potemkin. He is a most amiable man, 
 and none can be more noble minded. For the 
 Empress, Fame has never yet done her justice. I 
 am sure that no stranger, who has not known that 
 illustrious character, ever conceived how much 
 her majesty is made to reign over a great empire, 
 to make people happy, and to attach grateful and 
 susceptible minds. 
 
 " Is not the present a happy moment for France 
 to declare for Russia ? Would it not be a means 
 to retrieve her dignity and to re-establish the 
 affairs of Holland ? What would England find 
 to oppose such an alliance ? Denmark is with 
 
PAUL JONES. 263 
 
 Russia, and Sweden ought surely to be with 
 France. An alliance with Russia might be very 
 advantageous and can never be dangerous to 
 France. In these circumstances the Isles of Candia 
 and Cyprus appear among the objects that ought 
 to attract her attention. Perhaps they might be 
 obtained, and the affairs of Holland re-established 
 without the expense of a war; for it is a question 
 if England and Russia would venture to make 
 opposition. One sure advantage would result to 
 France ; I mean the breaking off her destructive 
 treaty of commerce with England. Since the 
 time of the assembly of notables, I have always 
 thought, that the ministry that was then intro- 
 duced ought to have seen the expediency of a 
 war with England ; to break the treaty of com- 
 merce and prevent the ruin of French manufac- 
 tures ; to obtain loans from Holland, and to 
 render that republic for ever dependent on French 
 protection, and above all, to unite the nation, and 
 prevent the broils that have since ensued, by ex- 
 citing a brave and patriotic people to support 
 their national dignity. 
 
264 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " My motives are pure, and I am influenced 
 
 only by the affection I feel for the two countries 
 
 you love. Your known patriotism assures me, 
 
 that if you can make my ideas useful, you will 
 
 not fail to do it. My kind respects await Madame 
 
 La Marquise, and I hope her interesting family 
 
 is well. It would afford me great happiness to 
 
 see or hear from you, and if you cannot favour us 
 
 with a visit, I beg the favour of any news that 
 
 may be interesting. 
 
 " Paul Jones. 
 
 " P.S. Mr. Littlepage has arrived at the army 
 of the Prince de Potemkin, and I expect to see him 
 here in a few days. The Capitan Pacha has been 
 beaten last week. This is a good beginning, and 
 I hope we shall have greater success. The 
 Count de Dumas was in the affair. To speak 
 in our republican way, he is a gallant fellow, I 
 marked him well. He has my esteem, and his 
 fair mistress owes him twenty sweet kisses for his 
 first effort. He keeps her picture always at his 
 heart." 
 
PAUL JONES. 
 
 265 
 
 Paul Jones to Mr. Jefferson. 
 
 9th Sept. 
 
 " On board the Wolodimer before Oczacoflf, 1788. 
 
 29th Aug. 
 
 " Some of my friends in America did 
 me the honour to ask for my bust. I inclose the 
 names of eight gentlemen, to each of whom I 
 promised to send one. You will oblige me much, 
 by desiring Mr. Houdon to have them prepared 
 and packed up two and two ; and if Mr. Short, 
 to whom I present my respects, will take the 
 trouble to forward them by good opportunities, 
 via Havre de Grace, writing, at the same time, 
 a few words to each of the gentlemen, I shall 
 esteem it a particular favour. Before I left 
 Copenhagen, I wrote to Mr. Amoureux, merchant 
 at L'Orient, to dispose of some articles of mine in 
 his hands and remit you the amount. I hope he 
 has done it, and that his remittance may be suffi- 
 cient to pay Mr. Houdon and the expense of 
 striking the medal with which I am honoured by 
 the United States. But, lest this should not turn 
 
266 THE LIFE OF 
 
 out as I expect, I have directed Dr. Bancroft to 
 pay any draft of yours on him for my account, as 
 far as four or five thousand livres. I shall want 
 four gold medals as soon as the dies are finish- 
 ed. I must present one to the United States, 
 another to the King of France, and I cannot do 
 less than offer one to the Empress. As you will 
 keep the dies for me, it is my intention to have 
 some gold medals struck ; therefore I beg you, 
 in the meantime, not to permit the striking of a 
 single silver or copper medal. I pray you to 
 present one in the most respectful terms to Mon- 
 sieur de Simolin. However my situation in Russia 
 may terminate, I shall ever esteem myself under 
 great obligation to him. I pray you to present 
 my affectionate respects to the Count d'Estaign, 
 and tell him I am infinitely flattered by the obli- 
 ging things he has had the goodness to say of me 
 during my absence. I admire him for his magna- 
 nimity, and it vexes me every time I reflect how 
 little his bravery and patriotism have been re- 
 warded by government. He is the only officer 
 who served through the last war without promo- 
 
PAUL JONES. 
 
 267 
 
 tion or honour. It is his honour to be beloved 
 by his nation, and to have deserved it. I send 
 inclosed an extract of my Journal on my expe- 
 dition from France to Holland in the year 1779, 
 for the information of the Academy of Inscriptions 
 and Belles Lettres. I trust, at the same time, more 
 to your judgment than to theirs. There is a medal- 
 ist who executed three medals for me in wax. One 
 of them is the battle between the Bon Homme 
 Richard and the Serapis. The position of the two 
 ships is not much amiss ; but the accessary figures 
 are much too near the principal objects ; and he has 
 placed them to windward instead of being, as they 
 really were, to leeward of the Bon Homme 
 Richard and Serapis. I do not at this moment 
 recollect the medalist's name ;* but he lives on the 
 third or fourth stage at a marble cutter's, almost 
 opposite, but a little higher than your former 
 house, Cul de Sac Rue Taitebout, and may be 
 easily found. It would be of use to see the medal 
 he has made, although it is by no means to be 
 copied. I owe him a small sum, perhaps 200 
 
 * Renaud. 
 
2(>8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 livres. I wish to know how much, that 1 may 
 make an arrangement for paying. I have not com- 
 prehended in the extract of my Journal the ex- 
 treme difficulties I met with in Holland, nor my 
 departure from the Texel in the Alliance, when 
 I was forced out by the Vice-Admiral Rhynst in 
 the face of the enemy's fleet. The critical situ- 
 ation I was in in Holland needs no explanation, 
 and I shall not say how much the honour of the 
 American flag depended on my conduct, or how 
 much it affected all the belligerent powers. I 
 shall only say, it was a principal cause of the re- 
 sentment of England against Holland, and of the 
 war that ensued. It is for you and the Academy 
 to determine, whether that part of my service 
 ought to be the subject of one side of the medal." 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 " Before Oczakoff, Sept. 1G (26) 1788. 
 " Mr. Littlepage has postponed his de- 
 parture. I expected him to remain with me till 
 the end of the campaign, but he now sets out so 
 
PAUL JONES. 
 
 269 
 
 suddenly, that I cannot send by him the extract 
 of my journal in 1779. I will send it in a week 
 or two to my friend, the Count de Segur, at St. 
 Petersburg, and he will forward it you with his 
 ministerial dispatches. Your letters, with which 
 you honour me, may also be forwarded to him. 
 I persuade myself that Count de Montmorin will 
 do it with pleasure." 
 
 List of gentlemen to whom busts are to be sent. 
 
 2 - { ST Ross^' Clair ' } ° f Philadel P hia ' 
 
 2. 5 Mr. John Jay, J f New York. 
 
 ( (Teneral Irvine, S 
 
 2 ( Mr. Sec. Thomson, } f N y k 
 ( Colonel Wadsworth, S 
 
 { Mr. J. Madison, 1 y. . . 
 ( Colonel Carrington, $ 1 & 
 
 " Admiral Paul Jones presents his respectful 
 compliments to Mr. Short, and begs the favour 
 of him to forward the eight busts mentioned in 
 the above list, by the most direct opportunities 
 from La Havre-de-Grace to America. Mr. Jef- 
 ferson is written to on the subject, and Mr. 
 
270 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Houdon, who prepares the busts, will also have 
 them carefully packed up in four boxes. The 
 admiral prays Mr. Short to be so obliging as to 
 write a line or two to each of the gentlemen for 
 whom the busts are destined." 
 
 The entrance of Jones into the Russian navy 
 was strenuously opposed by the English party at 
 St. Petersburg. When the offer of the Empress 
 to the American officer was first made public, a 
 great number of English officers in the service of 
 the empire immediately tendered their resigna- 
 tions. Some members of the Russian cabinet, who 
 favoured the English alliance, were not backward 
 in dilating upon the impolicy of offending, for one 
 individual, so great a number of valuable officers ; 
 but the Empress was too well aware of the value 
 of Jones's talents to be diverted from her pur- 
 pose, and she compromised the affair, by distri- 
 buting the English officers among the Cronstadt 
 fleet commanded by Admiral Greg, and by ap- 
 pointing Paul Jones to the command of a division 
 of the fleet serving against the Turks in the 
 Liman sea. 
 
PAUL JONES. 271 
 
 The celebrated city of Oczakow was the point 
 to which the attention of the imperial forces was 
 directed. Potemkin had pledged himself to his 
 royal mistress to gain this mighty bulwark of the 
 Ottoman empire, and a powerful army, under the 
 command of the celebrated Suwarrow, closely 
 invested the city, while the Russian fleet, under 
 the command of Prince Nassau-Seiger, narrowly 
 watched the numerous vessels whose crescents 
 vailed to the command of the Capitan Pacha. 
 The Turkish fleet was not then the vain assem- 
 blage, which, according to the concurring tes- 
 timony of modern newspapers we are now taught 
 to believe it; and the imperial Catherine, not 
 very sanguine in the talents of her royal admiral, 
 appointed Paul Jones vice-admiral of the Liman 
 sea. 
 
 The Prince of Nassau confined himself chiefly 
 to the command of a flotilla. The following ex- 
 tracts will show that Jones did not look with a 
 very favourable eye upon the prince's operations. 
 
'rll'l THE LIFE OF 
 
 The Vice-Admiral to the Prince Nassau-Seiger. 
 
 1st June, 1788. 
 " No person can desire more than my- 
 self, to make a happy and at the same time 
 glorious campaign, for the arms of her Imperial 
 Majesty. If you can show me a more advanta- 
 geous position than the one I already have, I 
 will change my place with pleasure to adopt yours. 
 If you are of opinion that my duty requires me 
 to attack the Turkish fleet, under existing circum- 
 stances, I ask you if I ought not to wait until I 
 can conquer it. Where is the man who will 
 justify me, if, following my own will, and without 
 any necessity, knowing nothing certain of the 
 position of the army of his highness the Marshal 
 Prince Potemkin, I should expose the squadron 
 under my command to be burnt and taken ? Do 
 you believe the enemy will dare make a descent 
 on this side of Kimbourn and thus place himself 
 between two fires ? The experience of the last 
 year proves, that nothing is risked on the other 
 
PAUL JONES. c Sit\ 
 
 side, and that, the garrison is strong enough, and 
 the generals ahle enough, to repel an attack of 
 ten thousand men. But if the squadron which I 
 have the honour to command, should be destroyed, 
 it is not necessary for me to inform you, that the 
 Bog, the Cherson, &c. &c, would be open to the 
 ravages of the enemy. I would desire from my 
 heart, that your highness would place one or 
 two batteries under the walls of Kimbourn, to re- 
 inforce the place ; but you must feel that it is 
 impossible for me to escort you even under the 
 guns of Kimbourn, without having first conquered 
 the Turkish fleet. My intention is to protect 
 Kimbourn, and I believe I do at this moment. 
 If I advance, I shall find myself in a. position much 
 less favourable, without any perceptible advan- 
 tage. We have a stronger force in our barges 
 than the Turks, in consequence we can always 
 go to the assistance of Kimbourn even against the 
 wind." 
 
 Jones was, however, overruled : before he 
 changed his position he made the following memo- 
 randum. 
 
274 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " The council of war of the squadron and of 
 the flotilla which I held the 4th of June, very 
 inconsiderately determined to abandon the only 
 good position in the Liman (without knowing 
 the intentions of his royal highness the prince 
 marshal), and to advance three versts to occupy 
 another infinitely more exposed and less strong. 
 It was compromitting our means for the remain- 
 der of the war, without placing Kimbourn the 
 least more in safety — in fact all was to the con- 
 trary. 
 
 J. P. J." 
 
 The Capitan Pacha was also quite aware that 
 the Russian fleet had moved to " a position much 
 less favourable ;" and he immediately attacked 
 the first division of the Russian flotilla under the 
 command of the Prince of Nassau. The attack 
 was so well timed, that the whole division must 
 have been destroyed, had not Jones come up with 
 the Turks and forced them to retreat with great 
 loss. For this important service Jones received 
 the great order of St. Anne. " The zeal and in- 
 
!• VUL JONES. 275 
 
 trepidity," wrote Prince Potemkin to Jones, 
 " manifested by your excellency in the affair 
 against the Turks on the 7th of this month, in 
 aiding the Prince of Nassau, merit a just distinc- 
 tion, and I return you my thanks. I am per- 
 suaded, that such undertakings will contribute 
 much to the honour and glory of the Russian 
 arms." Jones was exceedingly proud of his new 
 order. " I am highly gratified," he answers Po- 
 temkin, " by the letter which your highness has 
 done me the honour to write to me the 8th of 
 this month, to inform me that you were satisfied 
 with my conduct in the affair of the 7th instant. 
 It is a new proof of your great and generous soul. 
 I can assure you, that I did not enter into it to 
 increase my own personal interests, but solely for 
 the benefit of the Russian arms, as I saw the first 
 division of the flotilla of her Imperial Majesty in 
 disorder, and in a most critical situation." This 
 affair with the Turks saved Kimbourn which the 
 Turks had invested. The Capitan Pacha with- 
 drew and the Wolodimer anchored off Oczakow. 
 On the 26th of June following, the whole Tur- 
 
 T 2 
 
.^7() THE LIFE QF 
 
 kish Meet attacked Jones's division. The battle 
 was fought at the entrance of the Liman, but, 
 owing to the unskilfulness of their pilots, the total 
 defeat of the Turks was never doubtful. The 
 Capitan Pacha with a considerable part of his 
 fleet ran aground early in the engagement, and, 
 thus situated, was exposed, not only to the fire 
 of the Russian fleet, but to that of the forts of 
 Kimbourn. The destruction and defeat of the 
 Turks were inevitable. The flag ship of the Capi- 
 tan and eight others of the largest vessels were 
 taken, and above four thousand prisoners. Before 
 many of the Turkish ships could be taken pos- 
 session of, the flotilla under the Prince of Nassau 
 sailed up and set the prizes on fire, to the asto- 
 nishment of the whole fleet. 
 
 The Vice- Admiral to the Prince Marshal Potemkin. 
 
 " OffOczakow, June, 1788. 
 " I could not have been more flattered than 
 
 by the letter which it has pleased your highness 
 to write to me 19th instant, to mark your satis- 
 faction for the victory gained over the enemy, and 
 
PAUL JONES. 277 
 
 to do me the particular honour of offering me your 
 thanks. 
 
 " Your highness can now look upon the cap- 
 ture of Oczakow as certain as the most superior 
 means and arrangements can render military ope- 
 rations. We learn by our prisoners, that there 
 are eight thousand troops in that place, who are 
 but badly disciplined. There remain only with 
 Hassan Pacha four vessels of his fleet, to wit, one 
 small frigate, one schooner, one sloop of war, and 
 one chebec aground ; but the flotilla is still with 
 him. I would not have been surprised to have 
 been attacked in the night. They are greatly 
 enraged^ and, in consequence, will commit some 
 desperate acts. Each day some of their men are 
 hung up to the yard-arm." 
 
 Paul Jones to Mr, Jefferson. 
 
 9th Sept. 
 
 Wolodimer, off Oczakow, - — - — 1788. 
 
 29th Aug. 
 
 c ' The American constitution I suppose is 
 
 adopted; but I am still afraid of the danger that 
 
 may result from entrusting the president with 
 
278 THE LIFE OF 
 
 such tempting power as military rank and com- 
 mand must give him. 
 
 " I can in no situation, however remote I am, 
 be easy, while the liberties of America seem to me 
 to be in danger. 
 
 " I leave to Mr. Littlepage to inform you par- 
 ticularly of the military events that have taken 
 place here this campaign. I can take no delight 
 in telling over tales of blood. God knows there 
 has been too much of it spilt. Scenes of horror 
 have been acted under my eyes; in which, how- 
 ever, I have the happiness to say, I had no part." 
 
 Jones did not refrain from denouncing the con- 
 duct of Nassau, in very strong language, to the 
 Prince Marshal. Potemkin listened to him with 
 attention and treated him always with marked 
 distinction, but delayed under different pretences 
 the promised inquiry. When the report of the 
 engagement appeared in the Imperial Gazette of 
 Petersburg, Jones saw with astonishment that it 
 was described as a brilliant victory gained by the 
 Kussian fleet under Prince Nassau, lie itnmedi- 
 
PAUL JONES. 279 
 
 atelv wrote a violent, and, as he afterwards 
 admitted, an intemperate note to the Prince Mar- 
 shal. Jones was answered by an order to repair 
 to Petersburg, and he was immediately appointed 
 to the command of the Northern seas, an office 
 which is the Chiltern Hundreds of the Russian 
 
 navy. 
 
 " It is a difficult thing at all times," says a 
 writer of the times, " to discover truth amidst the 
 misrepresentations of courts, of ministers, of com- 
 manders. Should any one write, for instance, the 
 history of the late war between Russia and 
 Turkey, he would take for his guide in relating 
 the first events, the siege of Ochakof, the accounts 
 published by the court of Petersburg, and the 
 reports of the commanders. There he would 
 find a brilliant victory gained by Prince Nassau 
 over the Turkish fleet in the Liman ; but if he 
 could get the report made by Paul Jones to the 
 Admiralty of Cherson, signed by all the com- 
 manders of the fleet, he would find that no 
 engagement took place, (except a distant cannon- 
 ade,) that the Turkish ships ran aground by their 
 
280 THE LIFE Ct' 
 
 ignovance and bad manoeuvres ; and that Nassau 
 with his flotilla, instead of taking possession of 
 them, set them on fire. This journal, which I 
 have read, and taken an extract from, was forbid- 
 den by Prince Potemkin to be sent to Petersburg, 
 and the whole campaign as it stands on record, is 
 nearly a romance. The fortress might have been 
 taken the 1st of July with more ease than on the 
 6th of December, 1788, and the commander-in- 
 chief knew it. I was at the opening of the 
 trenches and at the storming of the place, and 
 therefore can speak of facts to which I was an- eye 
 witness."*" 
 
 The defeat of the Turks had been so decisive, 
 that the talents of Jones were no longer requisite 
 in the then campaign. Potemkin could therefore 
 avenge his insulted dignity by the removal of the 
 vice-admiral; but he intended that removal only 
 as a temporary one, and he gave Jones a private 
 letter to the Empress, recommending him in the 
 warmest manner to the imperial favour. 
 
 * Eton. — Survey of the Turkish Empire. 
 
PAUL JONES. 281 
 
 On his arrival at St. Petersburg, Jones found 
 that the English party had not been idle during 
 his absence in their endeavours to injure him in 
 the favour of the Empress. The following cor- 
 respondence will shew that he continued for a 
 long time at St. Petersburg in great esteem at 
 the court. 
 
 Paul Jones to Mr. Jefferson. 
 
 St. Petersburg, January 15 (26), 1789. 
 k " Having wrote you fully respecting the Den- 
 mark business by Mr. Littlepage, with the papers 
 necessary to finish it, I now have the honour to 
 transmit you the extract of my journal that you 
 wish to communicate to the Academy of In- 
 scriptions and Belles Lettres on the subject of 
 the medal with which I am honoured by Con- 
 gress. I have only at present to inform you that 
 I returned here from the Black Sea a short time 
 ago, by the special desire of her Imperial Majesty ; 
 but I knew not yet my future destination. I con- 
 gratulate you on the establishment of the New 
 
282 THE LIFE OF 
 
 American Constitution. Among other good 
 effects a marine force will naturally result from it. 
 If there is still a disposition to send a force against 
 the Algerines, would it not be a good thing to 
 conclude a treaty with this country, and make the 
 war a common cause in the Mediterranean? The 
 Turks and Algerines are together, and acted in 
 conjunction against us before Oczakow. A treaty 
 might now be concluded, permitting her Imperial 
 Majesty to enlist seamen in America, and assuring 
 to America after the peace a free navigation to 
 and from the Black Sea. If you approve of this 
 idea in general, various other things will necessa- 
 rily be engrafted in the treaty, and I flatter myself 
 I may obtain the command of the force destined 
 to act in conjunction with that of the United 
 States. I beg to hear from you as soon as pos- 
 sible, and I hope to be favoured with your senti- 
 ments, as I have already had some conversation 
 with this government on the subject. Please to 
 mention the situation of your arrangement with 
 the court of Denmark. Present my best respects 
 to the marquis and to Mr. Short. I congratulate 
 
PAUL JONES. 283 
 
 you all. on the happy acquisition of liberty in 
 France. His present majesty has established a 
 more glorious title than any of his predecessors, 
 and posterity will bless his memory and call him, 
 1 Louis the Citizen /' I avail myself of an ex- 
 press that is just setting out from the office of 
 Foreign Affairs, so that I have not time even to 
 copy this." 
 
 Paul Jones to Mr. Jefferson. 
 
 " St. Petersburg, January 20 (31), 1789- 
 " I had the honour to write you a line the 1 5th 
 (^6th) from this place, where I am arrived a short 
 time ago from the Black Sea. I send enclosed an 
 extract of the journal of my campaign in 1779, as 
 you desired, and I now enclose an extract of the 
 letter I wrote you by Mr. Littlepage. I have 
 heard nothing from him since he left me. I know 
 only that he arrived at Warsaw, but am quite un- 
 certain about his return, as he proposed, to Paris. 
 I can only inform you that I returned here by the 
 
284 THE LIFE OF 
 
 special desire of the Empress ; but 1 know not as 
 yet how or where I am to be employed for the 
 next campaign. I mentioned in my last as my 
 opinion, that if the New Government of America 
 determined to chastise the Algerines, I think it 
 now a favourable moment to conclude a treaty 
 with Russia. The Turks and Algerines were 
 combined against us on the Black Sea. The 
 United States could grant leave for Russia to 
 enlist American seamen, and making a common 
 cause with Russia in the Mediterranean, America 
 might, at the peace, obtain a free navigation to 
 and from the Black Sea. If such a treaty were 
 to take place, I believe I could obtain the com- 
 mand of the combined force ; at least no objec- 
 tion would be made to it here. Such a connec- 
 tion might lead to various mutual advantages in 
 the commerce between the two nations. I beg to 
 hear from you and to know the situation of our 
 claim on the court of Denmark ; for the only ob- 
 jection made by the Count Bernsdorff is now re- 
 moved by the establishment of the New American 
 Constitution." 
 
PAUL JONES. 285 
 
 Secret Note addressed to the Minister of St. Pe* 
 tersburg by the Vice- Admiral. 
 
 June 6, 1789. 
 " The great object of a Russian fleet in the 
 Mediterranean is to endeavour to cut off the 
 communication between Egypt and the coast of 
 Syria with Constantinople, from whence they 
 procure their corn, rice, coffee, &c. This opera- 
 tion will oblige them to withdraw a very consider- 
 able part of their fleet from the Black Sea. To 
 encompass this end I ask a carte-blanche and 
 only, exclusive of small boats, five large vessels, 
 like the East-Indiamen which are purchased in 
 London after they have made three voyages, and 
 which carry from forty to fifty guns. They are 
 strong vessels and good sailers. They are sent 
 from London to Naples under the English flag 
 under pretext of being engaged in mercantile 
 enterprizes. No person can have anything to say 
 against it. The crew of those vessels being 
 arrived in Italy would engage in the service of 
 
2SG THE LIFE <>) 
 
 Russia. For the rest we would easily find good 
 sailors at Malta and at Naples. I would employ 
 two small French vessels between Malta and 
 Naples trading to Smyrna to procure continual 
 news from Constantinople, and of the force and 
 position of the Turkish fleet. There are some 
 very important blows to be made, but in order to 
 succeed we must not speak of this matter before- 
 hand. We are informed that the want of provi- 
 sions at Constantinople has occasioned a rebellion, 
 discouraged the people, and caused a great deser- 
 tion of the troops. It is the policy of the vizier 
 to render himself popular by providing sufficiently 
 for them." 
 
 To the Minister at St. Petersburg 
 
 " St. Petersburg, June 13 (24), 1789 
 
 " The detachment of vessels of which your 
 
 Excellency has spoken to me, cannot but be very 
 
 advantageous to the operations which I projected : 
 
 however, I regard the means mentioned in the 
 
PAUL JONES. 287 
 
 private note which I addressed you, as a thing 
 most useful, and which will not cost so much in 
 proportion. I would wish, since circumstances 
 will permit of it, to unite the means, and then I 
 think we will have reason to be content with the 
 advantages which will be the result. I mentioned 
 to your Excellency that I am the only officer who 
 has made the campaign of Liman without being 
 promoted, but I beg you to believe that I did not 
 enter into the service of Russia to create difficul- 
 ties, and since the Empress has granted me her 
 esteem and confidence I desire nothing else, ex- 
 cept occasions to prove my attachment by new 
 services. 
 
 Paul Jones." 
 
 Notwithstanding the countenance of the Em- 
 press, Jones found that his influence at court daily 
 decreased. The Russian ministers were unwilling 
 to offend England by a refusal to drive him from 
 the service, and their intrigues to accomplish this 
 end were unceasing. Among other points an 
 amour of Jones's was made the subject of accusa- 
 
288 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tioii to the Empress, a strange ground for punish- 
 ment at the court of Catherine. By the kindness 
 of Count Segur, Jones quickly cleared his charac- 
 ter, but he quitted St. Petersburg in disgust. 
 
 The Count de Segur, minister plenipotentiary 
 from France to St. Petersburg, to the Count 
 D'Eestrns, minister plenipotentiary of his most 
 Christian Majesty, near his Majesty the King 
 of Prussia, and the Chevalier Bourgoing, mi- 
 nister plenipotentiary from France to Hamburg. 
 
 "St. Petersburg, 26th Aug. 1789. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 The Vice- Admiral Paul Jones, who will 
 
 have the honour to deliver this letter, commanded, 
 during the last campaign, a Russian squadron 
 stationed on the Liman. The Empress has de- 
 corated him, on this occasion, with the order 
 of St. Anne. He had a right, by his actions, to a 
 promotion and to a recompense, but this cele- 
 brated sailor, knowing better how to conduct him- 
 self in the midst of his battles than in courts, has 
 offended, by his frankness, some of the most pow- 
 
PAUL JONES. 289 
 
 erful people, and amongst others the Prince Po- 
 temkin. His enemies and his rivals have profited 
 by his momentary disgrace to hasten his destruc- 
 tion. Calumny has served their purposes; they 
 have given credit to reports absolutely false. 
 They have accused him of violating a girl. The 
 Empress, being deceived, has forbid him the court, 
 and wished to bring him to trial. Every person 
 has abandoned him; I alone have upheld and 
 defended him. The country to which he belongs, 
 the order of military merit which he bears, and 
 which he has so nobly acquired, his brilliant repu- 
 tation, and above all, our long acquaintance, have 
 made it a law to me. My cares have not been in 
 vain : I have caused his innocence to be acknow- 
 ledged. He has repaired to court, and has kissed 
 the hand of the sovereign, but he will not remain 
 in a country where he believes himself to have 
 been treated with injustice. However, he has not 
 given in his resignation. The Empress still pre- 
 serves for him his rank and emoluments, and only 
 grants him permission to absent himself for a 
 limited time. The true motive of his departure 
 
 u 
 
^ ( J() THE LIFE OF 
 
 is founded on his own discontent. But he has 
 made use of, as a pretext, important affairs which 
 call him to France, to Denmark, and which may, 
 perhaps, require his presence in America. I beg 
 you, Sir, to render to this brave man, as interest- 
 ing by the reverses of fortune which he has met 
 with as by his past success, every service which 
 may be in your power. It will lay me under a true 
 obligation, and I shall share, in a lively manner, 
 his gratitude. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 with inviolable attachment, &c. 
 
 Le Count Segur." 
 
 Count Segur to Count Montmorin. 
 
 " St. Petersburg, 21st July, 1789. 
 
 " The enemies of the Vice-Admiral Paul 
 Jones having caused to be circulated reports 
 entirely destitute of foundation, concerning the 
 voyage which this general officer is about to un- 
 dertake, I would wish the enclosed article, the au- 
 thenticity of which I guarantee, should be inserted 
 
PAUL JONES. 291 
 
 in the Gazette of France, and in the other public 
 papers, which are submitted to the inspection of 
 your department. This article will undeceive 
 those who have believed the calumny, and will 
 prove to the friends and to the compatriots of the 
 vice-admiral, that he has sustained the reputation 
 acquired by his bravery and his talents, during 
 the last war, that the Empress desires to retain 
 him in her service, and that if he absents himself 
 at this moment, it is with his own free will, and 
 for particular reasons, which cannot leave any 
 stain on his honour. 
 
 " The glorious marks of the satisfaction and 
 bounty of the King toward M. Paul Jones, his 
 attachment to France, which he has served so 
 usefully in the common cause, his rights as a sub- 
 ject, and as an Admiral of the United States, the 
 protection of the ministers of the King, and my 
 personal friendship for this distinguished officer, 
 with whom I made a campaign in America, are so 
 many reasons which appear to me to justify the 
 interest which I took in all that concerned him 
 during his stay in Russia." 
 
 u 2 
 
292 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " Article to be inserted in the public prints, and 
 particularly in the Gazette of France. 
 
 "St. Petersburg, 21st July, 1789.— -The Vice- 
 Admiral Paul Jones, being on the point of return- 
 ing to France, where private affairs require his 
 presence, had the honour to take leave of the 
 Empress the 7th of this month, and to be admit- 
 ted to kiss the hand of her Imperial Majesty, 5 * 
 who confided to him the command of her vessels 
 of war stationed on the Liman, during the cam- 
 paign of 1788. As a mark of favour for his con- 
 duct during this campaign, the Empress has de- 
 corated him with the insignia of the order of St. 
 Ann ; and her imperial Majesty, satisfied with his 
 services, only grants him permission to absent 
 himself for a limited time, and still preserves for 
 him his emoluments and his rank. 
 
 The Count de Segur." 
 
 The slander was finally put to rest. Among 
 other letters of congratulation, the vice-admiral 
 
 * This general officer, so celebrated by his brilliant actions 
 during the course of the American war, was called, in 1787, 
 to the service of her Imperial Majesty. 
 
PAUL JONES. 29o 
 
 received one from the Baron cle la Houge, minis- 
 ter plenipotentiary of France at Copenhagen. 
 
 The Baron tie la Houge to Admiral Jones. 
 
 " Copenhagen, 9th Feb. 1790. 
 " It is but a few days since I received, 
 with the letter with which you have honoured me, 
 of the 29th December, the copies of that of the 
 Count de Segur, which you have been pleased to 
 communicate to me, and which were accompanied 
 by the article inserted on- your account in the 
 Gazette of France, and which I had read. This 
 article, which has been repeated in many foreign 
 Gazettes, has entirely destroyed all the venomous 
 effects which calumny had employed to tarnish 
 the distinguished reputation which you have ac- 
 quired by your talents and your valour. In con- 
 sequence, public opinion still continues to render 
 you justice, and the most noble revenge you can 
 take on your enemies, is to gather fresh laurels. 
 The celebrated Athenian general, Themistocles, 
 has said " that he did not envy the situation of 
 one who was not envied." 
 
294 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " As to the affair concerning which you speak 
 to me, and in which you have been witness to my 
 zeal, as well for your compatriots as for my own, 
 it remains still at the same point where you left it 
 on your departure for St. Petersburg, the loth 
 April, 1788. A note, in answer, which the Count 
 de Bernstorff addressed to you on the 4th, keeps 
 always in view the affair which you negotiated 
 with him, but for the conclusion of which you are 
 not clothed with the necessary plenipotentiary 
 powers ; you know, however, that according to 
 the note of Count de Bernstorff, Paris ought to 
 have been the seat of the negotiation between the 
 Baron de Blome, envoy extraordinary of his 
 Danish Majesty, and Mr. Jefferson, minister ple- 
 nipotentiary of the United States of North Ame- 
 rica, near the King. You inform me that Mr. 
 Jefferson is at present in America, where he has 
 been appointed secretary of state for foreign 
 affairs. No person then can instruct his succes- 
 sor to Paris to take up the thread of negotiation 
 with the Baron de Blome better than himself. I 
 spoke, three days since, to the Count de Berns- 
 
PAUL JONES. 295 
 
 torfF, who perseveres, according to what he told 
 me, in all that he mentioned to you in his note of 
 the 4th April, 1788, but the minister observed to 
 me, that the circumstances of the actual crisis of 
 Europe did not permit him to follow, at this time, 
 the negotiation, which it appeared to him best to 
 keep back until the return of a calm. When I 
 shall have the pleasure to see Mr. Braseronde, 
 our consul at Elsineur, I shall take care to renew 
 to him the assurance of your remembrance, to 
 which he will most certainly be sensible, as like- 
 wise Mr. Framery, secretary of my legation, who 
 begs you to accept his compliments and his 
 thanks. You will part, in all probability, about 
 the commencement of the fine season, to return 
 to Russia. I wish that your voyage may procure 
 me, as you have given me reason to expect, satis- 
 faction to express personally to you the distin- 
 guished sentiments of attachment and considera- 
 tion with which I have the honour to be, 
 
 Sir, &c. 
 (Signed) Le Baron de la Houge." 
 
k'96 THE LIFE OF 
 
 This letter of the Baron de la Houge, looked 
 forward to Jones's speedy return to the Russian 
 service ; and the subjoined, addressed to Prince 
 Potemkin, evinces that such was the desire of 
 Jones. 
 
 To his Highness the Prince Marshal. 
 
 " Paris, 24th July, 1790. 
 
 " My Lord, 
 
 " I do not think it becomes me to let 
 pass the occasion of the return of your aide-de- 
 camp, to congratulate you on the brilliant success 
 of your operations since I had the honour to se^ve 
 under your orders, and to express to you, in all 
 the sincerity of my heart, the regret I feel in not 
 being fortunate enough to contribute thereto. 
 After the campaign of Liman, when I had leave, 
 according to the special desire of her Imperial 
 Majesty, to return to the department of the north- 
 ern seas, your highness did me the favour to grant 
 me a letter of recommendation to the Empress, 
 and to speak to me these words, " rely upon my 
 
PAUL JONES. 297 
 
 attachment. I am disposed to grant you the most 
 solid proofs of my friendship for the present and 
 for the future." Do you recollect them ? This 
 discourse was too flattering for me to forget it, 
 and I hope you will permit me to remind you of 
 it. Circumstances and the high rank of my ene- 
 mies have deprived me of the benefits which I had 
 dared to hope from the esteem which you had 
 expressed for me, and which I had endeavoured 
 to merit by my services. You know the disagree- 
 able situation in which I was placed, but if, as I 
 dared to believe, I have preserved your good 
 opinion, I may still hope to see it followed by 
 advantages, which it will be my glory to owe to 
 you. M. Desimolin can testify to you, that my 
 attachment to Russia, and to the great Princess, 
 who is its sovereign, has always been constant and 
 durable ; I attended to my duties, and not to 
 my fortune. I have been wrong, and I avow it 
 with a frankness which carries with it its own 
 excuse: 1st. That I did not request of you a 
 carte-blanche, and the absolute command of all 
 the forces of the Liman. 2d. To have written to 
 
298 THE LIFE OF 
 
 your highness under feelings highly excited, on 
 the £fth October, 1788. These are my faults. 
 If my enemies have wished to impute others to 
 me, I swear before God, that they are a calumny. 
 It only rests with me, my Lord, to unmask the 
 villainy of my enemies, by publishing my jour- 
 nal of the operations of the campaign of Liman, 
 with the proofs, clear as the day, and which I 
 have in my hands. It only rests with me to prove 
 that I directed, under your orders, all the useful 
 operations against the Captain Pacha: that it 
 was I who beat him on the 7th June ; that it was 
 I and the brave men I commanded, who conquered 
 him on the 17th June, and who chased into the 
 sands, two of his largest galleys, before our flotilla 
 was ready to fire a single shot, and during the 
 time, a very considerable part of the force of the 
 enemy remained at anchor immediately in rear of 
 my squadron : that it was I who gave to General 
 Suw arrow, (he had the nobleness to declare it at 
 court before me, to the most respectable witnesses,) 
 the first project to establish the battery and breast 
 works on the isthmus of Kimbourn, and which 
 
PAUL JONES. £99 
 
 was of such great utility on the night of the 17 — 
 18th June : that it was I, in person, who towed, 
 with my sloops and other vessels, the batteries 
 which were the nearest to the place, the 1 st July, 
 and who took the Turkish gallies by boarding, 
 very much in advance of our line, whilst some 
 gentlemen who have been too highly rewarded in 
 consequence of it, were content to remain in the 
 rear of the struggles of our line, if I may be 
 allowed to use the expression, sheltered from 
 danger. You have seen, yourself, my Lord, that 
 I never valued my person, on any occasion, where 
 I had the good fortune to act under your eye. 
 The whole of Europe acknowledges my veracity, 
 and grants me some military talents, which it 
 would give me pleasure to employ in the service 
 of Russia under your orders. The time will ar- 
 rive, my Lord, when you will know the exact 
 truth of what I have told you. Time is a sove- 
 reign master. It will teach you to appreciate the 
 man, who, loaded with your benefits, departed 
 from the court of Russia with a memorial pre- 
 pared by other hands and the enemies of your 
 
300 THE LIFE OF 
 
 glory, and of which memorial he made no use, 
 because your brilliant success at the taking of 
 Oczakow, which he learned on his arrival in 
 White-Russia, gave the lie to all the horors 
 which had been brought forward to enrage the 
 Empress against you. You know it was the echo 
 of another intriguer at the court of Vienna. In 
 fine, Time will teach you, my Lord, that I am 
 neither a mountebank nor a swindler, but a man, 
 true and loyal. I rely upon the attachment and 
 friendship which you promised me. I rely on it, 
 because I feel myself worthy of it. I reclaim 
 your promise, because you are just, an^ I know 
 you are a lover of truth. I commanded, and was 
 the only responsible person in the campaign of 
 Liman, the others being only of inferior rank, or 
 simple volunteers ; and I am, however, the only 
 one who has not been promoted or rewarded. 
 I am extremely thankful for the order of St. Ann, 
 which you procured for me, according to your 
 letter of thanks for my conduct in the affair of 
 the 1th June, which was not decisive. The 17th 
 June, I gained over the Captain Pacha, a com- 
 
PAUL JONES. 301 
 
 plete victory, which saved Cherson and Kimbourn, 
 the terror of which caused the enemy to lose nine 
 vessels of war, in their precipitate flight on the 
 following night, under the cannon of the battery 
 and breast-work, which I had caused to be erected 
 on the isthmus of Kimbourn. On this occasion 
 I had the honour again to receive a letter of 
 thanks, but my enemies and rivals have found 
 means to abuse your confidence, since they have 
 been exclusively rewarded. They merited rather 
 to have been punished for having burnt nine 
 armed prizes, with their crews, which were abso- 
 lutely in our power, having previously ran aground 
 under our guns. 
 
 " I have been informed that, according to the 
 institution of the order of St. George, I have the 
 right to claim its decorations in the second class, 
 for the victory of the 17th June, but I rely upon 
 your justice and generosity. I regret, that a 
 secret project, which I addressed to the Count 
 du Besborodska the 6th of June of the last year, 
 has not been adopted. I communicated this pro- 
 ject to the Baron de Beichler, who has promised 
 
30£ THE LIFE OF 
 
 me to speak to you of it. I was detained in St. 
 Petersburg until the end of August, in order to 
 hinder me, as I have heard, from proceeding into 
 the service of Sweden. My poor enemies, how 
 I pity them ! But for this circumstance my in- 
 tention was to have presented myself at your 
 head-quarters, in the hope to be of some utility ; 
 and the Baron de Beichler, in departing from St. 
 Petersburg in order to join you, promised me to 
 assure you of my devotion for the service of your 
 department, and that I should hold myself ready to 
 return to you the instant I was called. My con- 
 duct has not since changed, although I hold in 
 my hand a parole for two years, and I regard 
 eighteen months of this parole, in a time of war, 
 more as a punishment than as a favour. I hope 
 that your highness will succeed in concluding 
 peace this year, with the Turks ; but, in a con- 
 trary case, if it should please you to recall me to 
 take command of the fleet in the ensuing cam- 
 paign, I would ask permission to bring with me the 
 French officer concerning whom I spoke to you, 
 with one or two others, who are good tacticians, and 
 
PAUL JONES. 303 
 
 who have some knowledge of war. On my return 
 here, I received a gold medal, granted me by the 
 unanimous voice of Congress, at the moment I 
 received a parole from this honourable body. 
 The United States have decreed me this honour, 
 in order to perpetuate the remembrance of the 
 services which I rendered to America, eight years 
 previous, and have ordered a copy to be presented 
 to all the sovereigns and all the academies of 
 Europe with the exception of Great Britain. 
 There is reason to believe, that your highness 
 will be numbered among the sovereigns of Europe, 
 in consequence of the treaty of peace which you 
 are about to conclude with the Turks ; but in 
 any case, if a copy of my medal will be acceptable 
 to you as a mark of my attachment for your per- 
 son, it will do me an honour to offer it to you. 
 
 Paul Jones." 
 
 As Potemkin was not in want of an admiral, 
 Paul Jones, according to the fashion of all minis- 
 ters, European or Asiatic, was left unanswered. 
 Jones immediately wrote to the Empress, and as 
 
304 THE LIFE OF 
 
 his letter did not produce the effect he desired, he 
 addressed the autocrat by other and surer means. 
 
 To her Imperial Majesty of all the Russias. 
 
 25th Feb. 
 
 Paris, 1791. 
 
 8th March 
 
 Madam, 
 
 " If I could imagine that the letter which 
 I had the honour to write to your majesty from 
 Warsaw the #5th September, 1789, had come to 
 hand, it would be without doirot indiscreet in 
 me, to beg you to cast your eyes on the docu- 
 ments enclosed, which accuse no person, and the 
 only intent of which is, to let you see that in the 
 important campaign of Liman, the part which I 
 played, was not either that of a zero or of a har- 
 leqnin, who required to be made a colonel at the 
 tail of his regiment." I have in my hands the 
 means to prove, incontestibly, that I directed all 
 the useful operations against the Capitan Pacha. 
 The task which was given to me at this critical 
 conjuncture was very difficult. I was obliged to 
 
PAUL JONES. 
 
 305 
 
 sacrifice my own opinion, and risk my military 
 reputation for the benefit of your empire. But 
 I hope you will be satisfied with the manner in 
 which I conducted myself, and also of the sub- 
 sequent arrangements of which I am persuaded 
 you have not been acquainted until this moment. 
 The gracious counsel which your majesty has 
 often done me the honour to repeat to me before 
 my departure for the Black Sea, and in the letter 
 which you have deigned to write to me afterwards, 
 has since been the rule of my conduct, and the 
 faithful attachment with which you had inspired 
 me, for your person, was the only reason which 
 hindered me from requesting my dismissal when 
 I wrote to you from Warsaw ; for I confess 
 that I was extremely afflicted, and even offended, 
 at having received a parole for two years in time 
 of war, a parole which it has never entered 
 into my mind to wish for, and still less to ask, and 
 of which I have not profited to go to America, 
 or even to Denmark, where I had important 
 business ; for I had always hoped to be usefully 
 employed in your service, before the expiration 
 
 \ 
 
306 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of this parole, which has done me so much injury., 
 and although in public I would not have failed. 
 to have spoken to you at the last audience which 
 you granted me, yet I was unfortunately led to 
 believe the repeated promises made me, that I 
 should have a private audience in order to lay 
 before you my military projects, and to speak of 
 them in detail. 
 
 " I hope that the brilliant success with which 
 providence has blessed your arms will enable you 
 to grant peace to your enemies without shedding 
 more of human blood, but in a contrary case your 
 majesty can be well instructed from my project, 
 No. 12, of the last year. 
 
 " As I have my enemies, and as the term of 
 my parole is about to expire, I await the orders 
 of your majesty, and should be flattered, if it is 
 your pleasure for me to come and render you an 
 account in person. Mr. , who has the good- 
 ness to charge himself with this packet, which I 
 have addressed to him, sealed with my arms, will 
 also undertake to forward me your orders, I there- 
 fore pray you to withdraw me as soon as possible 
 from the cruel uncertainty in which I am placed. 
 
PAUL JONES. 307 
 
 Should you deign, madam, to inform me, that you 
 are pleased with the services which I have had 
 the happiness to render you, I will console myself 
 for the misfortunes which I have suffered, as I 
 drew my sword for you from personal attachment 
 and ambition, but not for interest. My fortune, 
 as you know, is not very considerable, but as I 
 am philosopher enough to confine myself to my 
 means, I shall be always rich. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 Madam, 
 Of your Imperial Majesty, 
 The most faithful and 
 
 Obedient servant, 
 
 Paul Jones." 
 
 Mr. Jefferson had now returned to America, 
 and entered upon the duties of Secretary of State, 
 under the presidency of Washington. Still 
 smarting under the injuries he had received in 
 Russia, Jones addressed the annexed letter to his 
 old and stedfast friend. 
 
 x2 
 
308 THE LIFE OF 
 
 To His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. Secre- 
 tary of State, Philadelphia. 
 
 " Paris, March 20, 1791. 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 " On my return from Russia to Amsterdam in 
 December, 1789, I wrote to several gentlemen in 
 America, particularly to the vice-president and 
 to Mr. Secretary Thomson, enclosing some evi- 
 dence of the treatment I met with in Russia. I 
 wrote at the same time to the president, enclosing 
 a letter from the Count de Segur. Messrs. Shep- 
 horsts and Hubbard undertook to forward my 
 packets by a ship, then ready to sail for Philadel- 
 phia, called the Pensylvania Packet, John Earl, 
 master ; but though that ship arrived safe, I have 
 not, to this hour, received a single line in answer. 
 I need not express to you the pleasure I received 
 from your acceptance of the honourable and high 
 station of secretary of state for domestic and 
 foreign affairs. I felicitate our country on having 
 wisely confided her interests to such worthy and 
 
l'AUL JONES. 
 
 30!) 
 
 able hands ; but it gives me pain that so inadequate 
 a provision has been made for doing the honours 
 incumbent on the first minister of a nation of such 
 resources as America, and I wish that matter may 
 be soon changed to your satisfaction. As it has 
 been and still is my first wish and highest ambi- 
 tion to shew myself worthy of the flattering marks 
 of esteem with which I have been honoured by 
 my country, I think it my duty to lay before you, 
 both as my particular friend, and as a public 
 minister, the papers I now enclose relative to my 
 connection with Russia, viz. three pieces dated at 
 St. Petersburg, and signed by the Count de 
 Seour; a letter from me dated at Paris last 
 summer, and sent to the Prince de Potemkin, and 
 a letter from me to the Empress, dated a few days 
 ago. I have selected these testimonials from a 
 great variety of, perhaps, still stronger proofs in 
 my hands ; but though the Baron de Grimm has 
 undertaken to transmit to her Imperial Majesty's 
 own hands my last packet, I shall not be surprized 
 if I should find myself constrained to withdraw 
 from the Russian service, and to publish my 
 
olO THE LIFE OF 
 
 journal of the campaign I commanded: in that 
 case I hope to prove to the world that my opera- 
 tions not only saved Cherson and Crimea, but de- 
 cided the fate of the war. 
 
 " Chevalier Littlepage, now here on his way 
 from Spain to the north, has promised me a letter 
 to you on my subject, which, I presume, will shew 
 the meanness and absurdity of the intrigues that 
 were practised for my persecution at St. Peters- 
 burg. I did not rn^self comprehend all the 
 blackness of that business before he came here 
 and related to me the information he received 
 from a gentleman of high rank in the diplomatique, 
 with whom he travelled in company from Madrid 
 to Paris. That gentleman had long resided in a 
 public character at the court of St. Petersburg, 
 and was there all the time of the pitiful complot 
 against me ; which was conducted by a little great 
 man behind the curtain. 
 
 " The unequal reception with which I had, at 
 first, been honoured by the Empress, had been 
 extremely mortifying and painful to the English 
 at St. Petersburg ; and the courtier just men- 
 
PAUL JONES. .31 1 
 
 tioned, (finding that politics had taken a turn far 
 more alarming than he had expected at the be- 
 ginning of the war,) wishing to soothe the court 
 of London into a pacific humour, found no first 
 step so expedient as that of sacrificing me ! But 
 instead of producing the effect he wished, this 
 base conduct, on which he pretended to ground 
 a conciliation, rather widened the political breach, 
 and made him to be despised by the English 
 minister, by the English cabinet, and by the gen- 
 tleman who related the secret to Chevalier Little- 
 page. 
 
 " I must further inform you, that a few days 
 after my arrival from Denmark at St. Peters- 
 burg, I received from the Danish minister at 
 that court a letter under the seal of the Count de 
 BernstorfF, which, having opened, I found to 
 be a patent from the King of Denmark in the fol- 
 lowing terms : * Having reasons for wishing to 
 give new proofs of our bounty to the Chevalier 
 Paul Jones, commander-in-chief of the squa- 
 drons of the United States of America, and de- 
 signing, above all, to prove our esteem in conse- 
 
312 THE LIFE OF 
 
 quence of the regard which he has shewn for the 
 Danish flag, during the time of his command in 
 the northern seas, we grant him for the present 
 moment, and annually during his life, the sum of 
 1500 crowns, Danish currency, to be paid at 
 Copenhagen, without any retention whatever !' 
 
 " The day before I left the court of Copen- 
 hagen, the Prince Royal had desired to speak 
 with me in his apartment. His royal highness 
 was extremely polite, afld after saying many civil 
 things, remarked, he hoped I was satisfied with 
 the attentions that had been shewn to me since 
 my arrival, and that the King would wish to give 
 me some mark of his esteem. * I have never had 
 the happiness to render any service to His 
 Majesty.' * That is nothing,' said he, ' a man like 
 you ought to be excepted from ordinary rules. 
 You could not have shewn yourself more delicate 
 as regards our flag, and every person here loves 
 you.' 
 
 " I took leave without further explanation. 1 
 have felt myself in an embarrassing situation on 
 account of the King's patent, and 1 have as yet 
 
PAUL JONES. 6\o 
 
 made no use of it, though three years have nearly 
 elapsed since I received it. I wished to consult 
 you, but when I understood that you would not 
 return to Europe, I consulted Mr. Short and Mr. 
 G. Morris, who both gave me their opinion, that 
 I may with propriety accept the advantage 
 offered. I have in consequence determined to 
 draw for the sum due, and I think you will not 
 disapprove this step, as it can by no means 
 weaken the claim of the United States, but rather 
 the contrary. 
 
 " You will observe that the Empress of Russia 
 has decorated me with the great order of St. 
 Anne ; and as I have appeared with that order 
 ever since, I must beg the favour of you to obtain 
 and transmit to me, as soon as possible, the pro- 
 per authority of the United States for my retain- 
 ing that honour. You are sensible I did not 
 accept the offer of her Imperial Majesty with a 
 view to detach myself from the service of Ame- 
 rica, but that I have done my utmost to fulfil the 
 intention of Congress in sending me last to Europe 
 [ to acquire that degree of knowledge which may 
 
3\ 1 THE LIFE OF 
 
 hereafter render me more extensively useful.' 1 
 have, in some measure, by my experience and ob- 
 servation, effected the object of my pursuit; 
 though, I confess, I have still much to learn, and 
 I wish to embrace the first occasion to embark in 
 the French fleet of evolution. 
 
 " I have not since my return here appeared at 
 court ; but the Marquis de la Fayette will shortly 
 conduct me to the King, when I shall present my 
 journal of the American war, with the letter of 
 which I am bearer for the United States. I re- 
 serve for my return to America to produce to the 
 United States full and unquestionable evidence, 
 signed by the grand pensioner, that my conduct 
 in 1779 drew the United Netherlands into the 
 war. This is saying enough to a man of your in- 
 formation ; for it would be superfluous to enume- 
 rate the advantages that thence resulted to Ame- 
 rica, particularly the great event which took place 
 under your own eyes, and which could not have 
 happened if Holland had remained a neutral 
 power. 
 
 " 1 am much obliged bv the trouble you took 
 
P \VL JONES. 315 
 
 in forwarding, before you left Europe, the busts I 
 had promised to different gentlemen in America. 
 Having lately received a letter from Mr. Burton, 
 a former member of Congress, with whom I had 
 the honour of being acquainted at New York, re- 
 questing my bust, in behalf of the state of North 
 Carolina, I have ordered Mr. Houdon to prepare 
 and forward it by the first ship from Havre de 
 Grace, for Philadelphia ; and as that bust will be 
 decorated with the Order of St. Anne, on the 
 American uniform, this is one reason why I wish 
 to be authorized by the United States to wear 
 that order. I shall take the liberty of addressing 
 the bust to you, requesting you to deliver it to 
 the North Carolina delegates, who will be so 
 good assto forward it to the governor of the state. 
 " I continue to be sensibly affected by the situ- 
 ation of our poor countrymen at Algiers: the 
 more so as I learn indirectly from the pirate, now 
 here, who took the greatest part of them, that if 
 they are not very soon redeemed, they will be 
 treated with no* more lenity than is shewn to other 
 
3I() THE LIFE OF 
 
 slaves. He told thi3 to Mr. Littlepage, who 
 
 repeated it to me." 
 
 The Chevalier Littlepage to Mr. Jefferson. 
 
 " Paris, March 23, 1791. 
 " You will doubtless share my regret in reflect- 
 ing that we were the principal means of engaging 
 Admiral Sir John Paul Jones to accept the pro- 
 positions made to him, in 1788, by the Russian 
 court. Never were more brilliant prospects held 
 forth to an individual, and never individual better 
 calculated to attain them. The campaign upon 
 the Liman of 1778, added lustre to the arms of 
 Russia, and ought to have established for ever 
 the reputation and fortune of this gallant officer, 
 to whose conduct those successes were owing > 
 but unfortunately in Russia, more perhaps than 
 elsewhere, everything is governed by intrigue. 
 Some political motives, I have reason to think, 
 concurred in depriving Admiral Paul Jones of the 
 fruits of his services ; he was thought to be par- 
 
PAUL JONES. 317 
 
 ticularly obnoxious to the English nation, and the 
 idea of paying a servile compliment to a power 
 whose enmity occasions all the present embarrass- 
 ments of Russia, induced some leading persons to 
 ruin him in the opinion of the Empress, by an 
 accusation too ridiculous. 
 
 " It would be needless to enter into details ; 
 you have too much confidence in Admiral Paul 
 Jones to doubt the veracity of what he will perso- 
 nally communicate to you, and to which I refer 
 you." 
 
 Paul Jones passed the remainder of the year 
 1791 at Paris in extreme ill health. The pros- 
 pects of the succeeding year did not brighten. 
 He found his friend La Fayette waging an unsuc- 
 cessful struggle with that dark, unhallowed crew, 
 the Jacobins. Jones was indeed spared from see- 
 ing " the best of kings," arraigned for imaginary 
 crimes before an unauthorized tribunal, and his 
 chivalric spirit was not outraged by the more 
 pitiable tragedy that followed after. Early in the 
 month of June, 1792, Paul Jones breathed his 
 
ol8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 last at Paris. The National Assembly went into 
 mourning on account of his death, and a deputa- 
 tion of their members followed his body to its 
 grave. 
 
 Paul Jones was short in stature and slenderly 
 made. He was authoritative in his manner " with 
 a very determined air." 
 
 That by law he was a pirate and a rebel, I shall 
 not deny; since by the same law Washington would 
 have been drawn and quartered, and Franklin had 
 already been denounced as " a hoary headed 
 traitor.'' But we have seen, that nothing can be 
 more erroneous than the prevalent history of his 
 character and fortunes. As to his moral conduct 
 it would seem, that few characters have been 
 more subject to scrutiny and less to condemnation. 
 His very faults were the consequences of feelings 
 which possess our admiration, and his weaknesses 
 were allied to a kindly nature. He was courageous, 
 generous, and humane; and he appears to have 
 been the only one in this age of revolutions, whose 
 profession of philanthropy was not disgraced by 
 his practice. As to his mental capacity, it cannot be 
 
PAUL JONES. 3 19 
 
 denied that his was a most ardent and extraordi- 
 nary genius. Born in the lowest rank of life, and 
 deprived by his mode of existence from even the 
 common education which every Scotchman in- 
 herits, Paul Jones was an enthusiastic student, 
 and succeeded in forming a style which cannot be 
 sufficiently admired for its pure and strenuous 
 eloquence. His plans, also, were not the crude 
 conceptions of a vigorous but untutored intellect, 
 but the matured systems which could only have 
 been generated by calm observation and patient 
 study. His plan for attacking the coast of Eng- 
 land was most successful in execution, though 
 conceived on the banks of the Delaware; and we 
 cannot but perceive a schooled and philosophic 
 intellect in his hints for the formation of the navy 
 of a new nation. Accident had made him a re- 
 publican, but the cold spirit of republicanism had 
 not tainted his chivalric soul, and his political 
 principles were not the offspring of the specious 
 theories of a dangerous age. There was nothing 
 in the nature of his mind which would have pre- 
 vented him from being the commander instead of 
 
320 THE LIFE OF PAUL JONES. 
 
 the conqueror of the Serapis. He delighted in 
 the pomp and circumstance of royalty, and we 
 scarcely know when to deem him happiest — when 
 the venerable Franklin congratulated him for hav- 
 ing freed all his suffering countrymen from the 
 dungeons of Great Britain, or when he received a 
 golden hilted sword from the " protector of the 
 rights of human nature." Although he died in 
 his forty-fifth year, his public life was not a short 
 one, and by his exertions at the different courts 
 of Europe he mainly contributed to the success 
 of the American cause. 
 
 Now that the fever of party-prejudice has sub- 
 sided, England wishes not to withhold from him 
 the tribute of her admiration. America, " the 
 country of his fond election/' must ever rank him 
 not only among the firmest, but among the ablest, 
 of her patriots. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
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