NAVAL CHRONICLE.

tions that have been related to his disadvantage, we will give it in detail, together with the motives which Jones afterwards urged in his extenuation, in a letter to the countess of Selkirk. When off Whitehaven, he sent his boats, with a party of men on shore, for the express and sole purpose of seizing the earl. They landed without opposition, and proceeded to the carl's seat, but as his lordship was then in London attending his parliamentary duties, the object of their descent could not be obtained, and in revenge, probably for this disappointment, they plundered the house, and carried off his lordship's plate. Jones always asserted that this was done without his orders, and took the first opportunity to write a letter apologising to the countess of Selkirk, for the conduct of his men, which he disavowed, and declared his intention of restoring the plate by the first opportunity. This letter was published at the time, and excited considerable attention, being well written, and containing a deal of wit and gallantry.

Jones particularly stated that his object was to carry the earl of Selkirk to Paris, and there detain him as an hostage, until the British cabinet should consent to an exchange of the American prisoners. It is well known that for a considerable time after the commencement of the war, the government of England treated the American prisoners with singular harsh ́ness, and stigmatized them as rebels, that were held in custo dy to be hanged at a convenient season. Every one remembers the remonstrances of general Washington on this subject, and that it was only his reiterated threats of exemplary retaliation, with the conviction that from the character of Washington for exemplary firmness, they would certainly be put into execution, that at last brought about a regular exchange. Contumely, ill treatment, and hopeless imprisonment were the lot of our countrymen taken in arms, and Jones, as an officer bearing the commission of congress, was justified, at least to this country, in an attempt that had for its object, the ultimate liberation of those engaged in the same cause with himself. The attempt showed a mind above the ordinary stamp, and

that it produced other effects, we have no authority to say was his fault. He disavowed the act of plunder, and the plate was restored by the first favourable opportunity, whether voluntarily on the part of Jones, or by order of the American ambassador at Paris, does not however distinctly appear. Of a man so noted and so obnoxious to a great literary nation like England, whose pen is more dangerous to the reputation, than her sword is to the life, of her enemies, it is difficult to judge at this distance. All we can say is, that we have not been able to procure one decisive evidence on this head, and following the maxim of criminal law, we shall consider him innocent, until he is proved otherwise. The publications of those days in England, teem with libels on poor Jones, and all the usual vulgar reproaches of vulgar writers were poured on his head. It was said "that he fought with a halter about his neck;" "that he never would fight until he was drunk"-"that he was pot-valiant," and a variety of the same refined reproaches, that have since been coupled even with the names of our distinguished naval officers of the present day. In the print-shops of London, he was represented with twelve pistols stuck in his girdle, and three men kneeling at his feet, whom it was plainly to be seen by the ferocity of his countenance, he intended to shoot without remorse. Paul Jones, the pirate, was his usual acceptation, although he held a commission from that congress which was then exercising the powers of sovereignty, and never in the whole course of his life committed any outrages on humanity, half so flagrant, as those for which admiral Cockburn received the honour of knighthood, and which, as suits the interests of England, are one day the acts of a pirate, the next of a hero. Ever since the writers of the Anti Jacobin, stigmatized, doing justice to the character of their enemies, as a species of "canting candour" unworthy the character of a true-born Englishman, the people of ⚫ that nation, and their political guides, seem to have had but one criterion of human character. Whoever was on their side was a hero or a saint-even though it were Ferdinand, or the

pope; and every body opposed to them, a tyrant or an infidel. When the crack-brained king of Sweden denounced Bonaparte as Mr. Bonaparte, and took the field against him, with a few hundred men, he was a second Gustavus Adolphus, and his rival Charles Jean, the present crown prince, was nothing but "a French corporal," though when he afterwards took part against the French, his countrymen, the very same writers, and the very same people, spoke of him with the highest commendation, and the government gave him, by way of douceur, a whole kingdom that did not belong to them. Thus it is that the characters of men are metamorphosed by great literary nations, who, when they would conquer their enemies, content themselves with destroying their reputation.

From the coast of Scotland, the Ranger passed to the coast of Ireland, and while cruising off Waterford, Jones was informed by some fishermen, that there was a British vessel of war lying in the port, called the Drake, mounting twentytwo guns. Jones resolved to try his skill, and the courage of his men. He therefore wrote a challenge to the captain of the Drake, stating the force of the Ranger, and requesting a meeting, for the purpose of exchanging a few broadsides. The challenge was promptly accepted, and the Drake proceeded to sea, cheered by the inhabitants as she passed out of the harbour. The ships met, and engaged about an hour, when the English flag was struck, after making several unsuccessful attempts to board the Ranger. Before the action, captain Jones is said to have particularly instructed his topmen how to fire, and the commanders of the guns to be particular in taking good aim, before they discharged their pieces. The Drake, according to a memorandum in Jones' journal, was badly manœuvred, and her crew several times were in great confusion from the severity of his fire. The carnage on board the Drake was terrible, a great proportion of her crew being killed and wounded. The loss of the Ranger was twelve killed and nine wounded. The Ranger carried her prize safe into a French port.

Soon after this affair, he was appointed to the Good Man Richard, which sailed from L'Orient the 14th day of August, 1779, with intent to cruise in the English channel, accompanied by the Alliance of 36 guns; the Monsieur of 22 guns; the Palais of 28 guns; the Vengeance of 16 guns; and a cutter mounting 10 guns. The whole squadron was under the orders of commodore Jones, who now assumed the lofty title of "Commander in chief of all the American ships of war in Europe." Notwithstanding this, it appears that his junior officers were either not under good discipline, or did not fully recognize his authority, for two days after sailing, a violent dispute took place between him and the captain of the Monsieur, who in consequence left the squadron without ceremony, and went back to France.

On the 17th of August, off the Irish coast, and abreast of Dungarvan, the squadron made a large ship, to windward standing in towards the land. Signal was made to the Alliance to ascertain what she was, and after approaching the stranger till nearly within cannon shot, returned, captain Lreporting the vessel to be a line of battle ship, as he had been near enough to see her upper battery. Jones, who was apt to be a little passionate, made a reply, in which he insinuated that L- was frightened, else he never would have mistaken a frigate for a two-decker. For this L- never forgave him, and at a subsequent period, travelled over half Europe to call him to account, as he used to affirm! Continuing their cruise, they captured a number of vessels, the most valuable of which they sent into France, and sunk the others. Being now in the neighbourhood of Leith, Jones formed a plan to lay that city under contribution. His intention was to sail up the river under British colours, which he imagined he could do without suspicion, and when opposite the city, which not expecting an enemy, would of course be entirely unprepared for resistance, to moor his ships with spring cables, and threaten to batter it with red-hot shot, unless they paid the sum he required, which was one hundred

thousand pounds. This plan met with great opposition from his officers, but Jones persevered. Having supplied all his officers with British uniforms, they accordingly sailed up the river, and hove too within gun-shot of the fortress which commands the passage. Here they made signal for pilots, who came on board immediately, and the squadron was only prevented from proceeding, by the circumstance of the tide being unfavourable. While waiting for it to turn, the commanding officer at Leith, mistaking them for English, dispatched a boat to inquire the name of the commander, his ships, &c., and to offer the usual compliments: he also inquired whether they intended to come up to the town; if not, he requested a supply of powder, as there was none in the place, and he was apprehensive, as there were many American privateers in the neighbourhood, they might come up in the night and destroy the town, which could be easily done, as the citizens were in great alarm, and unprepared to resist a sudden attack. The want of powder was one of those circumstances, which often favour daring designs, and render undertakings apparently desperate, easy in their execution. Places either remote from the apprehension of actual dangers, or relying on their natural strength for protection, are generally careless of the means necessary to their security, * and experience has verified the truth, that of undertakings that were considered rash, if not desperate, a greater proportion have succeeded, than of those which were supposed to require neither caution or valour. On the one side the idea of security causes a neglect of the means resorted to in other places more exposed; and on the other, inspires the necessity of extraordinary secrecy and celerity. No place can be considered safe from an enemy, that is carelessly guarded, and no place is of easy conquest that is protected by vigilance.

The officer sent with the governor's compliments, having been despatched with proper answers to his inquiries, and a Jarrel of powder, the squadron remained impatiently waiting