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NAVAL HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY

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John Paul Jones <»"!,li;e™2SSw

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JOHN PAUL JONES

COMMEMORATION

The illustrations in this volume are published
by permission of the owners of the originals.
Many of them are protected by copyright, and
are not to be reproduced without permission.

JOHN PAUL JONES.
From the terra cotta colored bust, by Houdou, now in the National Academy of Design, New York.

JOHN PAUL JONES.
From the terra cotta colored bust, bj- Houdon, now in the National Acatleniy of Design, New York.

JOHN PAUL JONES

COMMEMORATION AT ANNAPOLIS
APRIL 24, 1906

/(. . S, 1o'i-i<r;re^ss.

COMPILED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE JOINT
COMMITTEE ON PRINTING BY CHARLES W. STEWART
SUPERINTENDENT LIBRARY AND NAVAL WAR RECORDS

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1907

Jtt.

RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS

CONCURRENTLY ADOPTED JUNE 29, 1906

Til eaalvei bij llj* ^auBt nf SjprrBftrtattWB (tlje ftfttat* rnnnjrnttg) , That
>« there be printed and bound 11,000 copies of the addresses delivered
at the exercises commemorative of John Paul Jones, at the Naval
Academy, Annapolis, Md., April 24, 1906, together with other papers
and illustrations germane thereto, to be compiled and published under
the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing; 7,000 for the use of
the House of Representatives, 3,000 for the use of the Senate, and 1,000
for distribution by the Secretary of the Navy.

4

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction 9

I. Addresses at Annapolis, April 24, 1906:

Address of President Roosevelt 15

Address of Ambassador Jusserand 21

Address of General Porter 25

Address of Governor Warfield 35

Prayer of Chaplain Clark 41

II. Papers and reports. Discovery, identification, and transfer of remains of
John Paul Jones:

Message from the President ^ 43

Report of General Porter 49

Address of General Porter in Paris 73

Official certification by the American Embassy and Consulate of

the identification of the body 76

Report of Doctor Capitan 81

Report of Doctor Papillault 87

Report of Professor Cornil 93

Report of Engineer Weiss 95

Report of Rear-Admiral Sigsbee, U. S. Navy 10 1

III. Letters of John Paul Jones:

Petition for admission as a Mason 115

Letter to Joseph Hewes 1 1 7

Letter to Robert Morris 121

Letter to the Countess of Selkirk 123

Letter from Lord Selkirk 1 27

Letter from Lord Selkirk. Acknowledgment of return of silver

taken April 23, 1778 131

Report of John Paul Jones. Cruise of U. S. ship Ranger and capture

of H. B. M. ship Drake 133

Report of John Paul Jones. Cruise of U. S. shiy Bonhomme Richard

and squadron, and capture of H. B. JI. ships Serapis and Countess

of Scarborough 139

Certificate of Messrs. Van Berckel and Dumas 151

Letter to Robert ilorris 155

Letter to Mrs. Belches 164

IV. Chronology 165

Appendix:

Letter from U. S. Consul-General Gowdy to Representative Landis 195

French officers and officials who took part in the ceremonies at Paris .... 1 96

Address of Junior Special Ambassador Loomis in Paris igS

Address of Rear-Admiral Sigsbee, U. S. Navy, in Paris 201

Address of Vice-Admiral Besson, French navy, at Cherbourg, Jul v 8, 1905 . 202

Ceremonies at U. S. Naval Academy, July 24, 1905 203

Order of Rear-Admiral Sands, U. S. Navy 204

Order of Captain Colvocoresses, U. S. Navy 205

List of commanding officers in the French and American naval forces

assembled at Annapolis, April 24, 1906 206

Description of swords 208

List of recipients of casts of the bust in National Academy of Design 209

Notes regarding John Paul Jones 210

ILLUSTRATIONS

Facing page
Profile and three-quarters face of Houdon bust in National Academy of

Design, New York Frontispiece

Speakers' stand and casket 14

Dress sword presented by Louis XVI. to John Paul Jones 20

Profile and front view of bust from De Biron collection 24

View of armory from center of N\V. gallery 34

Portrait by Miss Beaux, 1906 40

Portrait from engraving by Moreau 42

Trocadero plaster bust 48

Head of John Paul Jones 48

Composite print of Trocadero plaster bust and human head 48

Scene of the search 54

Plan of the cemetery of St. Louis in 1792 56

Plan of buildings covering cemetery in 1905 56

Cross section of the cemetery 56

Plan of the shafts and galleries 56

The first shaft 60

Refilling the galleries 68

House in Paris in which John Paul Jones died 72

Portrait from frontispiece of "Memoires de Paul Jones," 179S 80

Portrait from sketch by unknown artist at Amsterdam Theater, 1779 So

Naval Academy miniature 85

Portrait from engraving by Henri Toussaint, 1906 92

Microphotographs of sections of kidneys, lungs, and liver of John Paul Jones.

(See note, p. 94.)

View of the yard over the cemetery 94

Place where the body was found 94

French artillery caisson bearing the cofiin 100

American sailors crossing the bridge of Alexander III loo

Petition of John Paul for admission as a Mason 114

Portrait in British Museum 120

Facsimile of first and last pages of letter to Countess of Selkirk from the

original at St. Mary's Isle 122

Facsimile of gold medal 138

Sword said to have been carried by John Paul Jones during the American

Revolution 138

Facsimile of letter to Mrs. Belches 164

Wax medallion 164

Facsimile of invitation 2o5

Facsimile of programme cover 206

Plan of armory 206

INTRODUCTION

THIS volume has been compiled in the office of I,ibrary and Naval
War Records, Navy Department, under authorization of the Joint
Committee on Printing. It includes :

The addresses delivered at the United States Naval Academy, April
24, 1906, printed from copy furnished by the distinguished speakers of
the day;

The ofiicial report of General Horace Porter to the State Department,
with inclosures and illustrations which set forth the search for, dis-
cover}^ and identification of the body of John Paul Jones;

An extract from the report of Rear- Admiral Sigsbee describing the
most important ceremonies connected with the John Paul Jones expe-
dition, including the transfer in Paris of the bod}' from First Special
Ambassador Porter to Junior Special Ambassador Loomis, and from the
latter to Rear- Admiral Sigsbee, and its transportation from Paris to the
United States Naval Academy and deposit in the now historic brick
vault, where it lay under guard for the nine months preceding April 24,
1906;

Letters and illustrations selected from authentic correspondence and
portraiture for the purpose of showing the character and personal appear-
ance of our first great sea fighter;

The chronology, prepared mainly from carded data collected in searches
for information in answer to inquiries.

General Porter's report includes plans and illustrations which show in
part the dangers and diflSculties which he encountered and overcame.
The reports of the oflScial engineer who supervised the excavations and
of the physicians and microscopist who examined the bod}' establish the
thoroughness of the explorations of the cemetery and the pathological
conditions that existed within the body at the time of death. The illus-
tration by means of microphotographs of vital organs of a man born in
1747 is unique. These reports are an important part of the testimony
that establishes the identity of the body.

The report of Rear- Admiral Sigsbee is a part of the history of France
and of the United States of America.

In troduction

The facsimiles of Jones's writing, dated 1770, 1778, and 1786, having
the characteristic signatures Jno. Paul, Jno. P. Jones, and J. Paul Jones
(or Paul Jones) have been prepared from the originals now preserved
in Scotland. The portraits here reproduced (except those by Henri
Toussaint and Miss Beaux) were probably made during the life of John
Paul Jones.

It is not possible to determine that every statement in the chronology
is accurate, but a reference for every item is given in convenient form,
and statements known to be incorrect generally have been omitted.

SUMMARY

THE 24th of April, 1906, was chosen for the commemorative exer-
cises in honor of John Paul Jones by President Roosevelt because
it was the anniversary of Jones's famous capture of the British
ship of war Drake, off Carrickfergus, in 1778. This date occurred
during the session of Congress, the academic year at the United States
Naval Academy, and the convention of the Daughters of the American
Revolution in Washington.

The Secretary of the Navy, Hon. Charles J. Bonaparte, issued the
invitations. The admirable arrangements at the United States Naval
Academy were made by Rear-Admiral Sands, U. S. Navy, Superin-
tendent. Invitations were sent to the President; the ambassador and
embassy of France; the principal officers of the Government, legisla-
tive, executive, and judicial; the Navy; the Army; governors of States;
the militia; patriotic societies, and distinguished men and women of
America. Cards of admission were mailed, as acceptances were received,
by the Secretary of the Navy. Special trains were provided for the
Presidential and Congressional parties from Washington and the regu-
lar train service was increased from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
and Washington to Annapolis.

April 24 was clear and cool with a fresh northwesterly breeze. The
Presidential train arrived at Annapolis at 12:45 P- m- and was met by
the Superintendent of the Naval Academy and the academic board with
automobiles. A national salute was fired from the U. S. S. Hartford,
the famous old flagship of Farragut at New Orleans and Mobile Bay.
Two companies of the Thirteenth U. S. Cavalry, under Col. Charles
A. P. Hatfield, U. S. Army, furnished an escort to the Superintend-
ent's house, where luncheon was served. The President and party, in
motor cars, were then escorted by a battalion of midshipmen to the
armory, through lines of midshipmen, French sailors. United States
sailors, marines, troopers, and thousands of cheering spectators. The
President, with the speakers of the day, escorted by the Secretary of
the Navy and the Superintendent, entered the armory at 2.24 p. m.
and mounted the speakers' stand. The audience rose and remained
standing while the Baltimore Oratorio Society sang the ' ' Star-Spangled
Banner. ' '

In tr odu ction

The casket containing the body of John Paul Jones rested upon tres-
tles before the stand, under a guard composed of petty officers of the
navies of France and the United States. The casket was draped with
the Union Jack, and upon it lay a wreath of laurel, a spray of palm,
and the gold-mounted sword presented by Louis XVI of France to the
conqueror of the Serapis. The armory and speakers' stand were deco-
rated with the colors of France and the United States of America.
Facing the stand and casket were Admiral George Dewey, U. S. Navy;
Rear- Admiral Campion, commanding the French squadron ; Rear-
Admirals Charles H. Davis and Royal B. Bradford, U. S. Navy, com-
manding United States squadrons. Behind these flag-officers were
seated their aids, the visiting officers of France, and the heads of
departments of the Academy. Seats on each side of this central section
faced toward the center of the armory. Sections of seats were reserved
for Senators and Members of Congress and other special parties. The
audience was representative of the patriotism and traditions of the
nation. The Senate, the House, the Cabinet, every branch of the Gov-
ernment, and national patriotic societies were represented.

The silence that followed the singing of the ' ' Star-Spangled Banner ' '
was broken by the clear, incisive voice of Hon. Charles J. Bonaparte,
Secretary of the Navy, presenting the President.

The President spoke for thirty minutes and was frequently interrupted
by applause. Every speaker was presented by the Secretary of the Navy
and each received close attention and warm approval. The official
programme was executed without variation.

The exercises in the armory closed at 4.38 p. m. with the rendering
of "How Sleep the Brave." The audience stood in silence and the
casket was taken to the space beneath the stairs in Bancroft Hall, where,
in the presence of the distinguished officials, Chaplain Clark, U. S. Navy,
offered a simple prayer, the last rite of the official programme. The
casket, draped with the Union Jack, was left under the care of a marine
guard, where it will remain until transferred to the crypt in the Naval
Academy chapel.

The President of the United States sent to the President of France
the following telegram :

[Cablegram.]

The White House,

Washington, April 24, 1^06.
To the President op France:

On the occasion of the formal reception at Annapolis of the body of John Paul
Jones I wish to thank you and, through you, the great French nation for its distin-
guished courtesy in connection with this event — a courtesy of a kind which serves
to keep even more vividly before us the invaluable aid rendered by France to this
country at what was well-nigh the most critical period of its history. France holds
a peculiar place in the heart of the American people, and on behalf of that people
I wish all success, prosperity, and happiness to the mighty Republic over which
you preside.

Theodore Roosevelt.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 13

Thus ended the formal official ceremonies relating to the homecoming
of John Paul Jones. There is no event in our history attended with
such pomp and circumstance of glor\', magnificence, and patriotic fervor.

Events other than commemorative ceremonies were as follows:

April 21, 1906: French squadron of armored cruisers, Amiral Aube,
CondS, and Marseillaise, under Rear- Admiral Campion, arrived at
Annapolis.

April 23: Rear- Admiral Campion and ranking French naval officers
visited Washington; at 2 p. m., reception at the White House, followed
by receptions at Navy Department and War Department. In the even-
ing a dinner, followed by a reception, at the White House.

April 24: At Annapolis, luncheon to Presidential party by the Super-
intendent. Receptions by Governor Warfield and Mrs. Warfield and
officers of the Naval Academy.

April 25: At 1.30 p. m. luncheon given to French officers by the Sec-
retary of the Navy at the New Willard Hotel. In evening a dinner,
followed by a reception, at the embassy of France.

April 26: Assistant Secretary of the Na^'y Newberry entertained
French naval officers aboard the U. S. S. Dolphin on a visit to Mount
Vernon. The ambassador of France and Rear-Admiral Campion
attended at Annapolis the laj'ing of the corner stone of the monument
to French sailors and soldiers who died in the American Revolution.

April 27: The French squadron sailed from Annapolis Roads.

The collection of data presented in this volume has been made possible
by the assistance of many persons. Gen. Horace Porter; Capt. John S.
Barnes; D. Appleton & Co.; Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan; Mr. Herbert Put-
nam, Librarian of Congress, Mrs. A. H. Eastman; Capt. John Hope,
R. N.; Rear-Admiral C. H. Stockton, U. S. Navy; Capt. G. P. Colvo-
coresses, U. S. Navy; Prof. Philip R. Alger, U. S. Navy; Pay Director
Joseph Foster, U. S. Navy; Mr. Robert W. Neeser; Mr. H. C. Gauss;
Mr. J. G. Wood, of Edenton, N. C, and many others have furnished
information, illustrations, or correspondence. Their courtesy, consid-
eration, and interest are gratefully acknowledged.

Charles W Stewart,
Superi7itendent Library and Naval War Records, Compiler.

SPEAKERS' STAND AND CASKET IN ARMORY OF UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY, APRIL 24, 1906.

View from center of northeast gallen-. From stereograph, copyright, 1906, by Underwood &

Underwood, New York.

I. ADDRESSES AT ANNAPOLIS
APRIL 24, 1906

ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

Secretary of the navy chari^es j. bonaparte introduced

the President in the following words: Fellow-Countrymen: We have
met to honor the memory of that man who gave our Nav^' its earliest
traditions of heroism and victory. The Commander in Chief of the Navy
is of right the first to speak of such a man at such a time. You will hear
the President.

ON BEHALF of the American people I wish to thank our ancient
ally, the great French nation, that proud and gallant nation to
whose help we once owed it that John Paul Jones was able to
win for the Stars and Stripes the victory that has given him deathless
fame, and to whose courtesy we now owe it that the body of the long-
dead hero has been sent hither, and that to commemorate the reception
of the illustrious dead a squadron of French war ships has come to our
shores.

The annals of the French navy are filled with the names of brave
and able seamen, each of whom courted death as a mistress when the
honor of his flag was at stake ; and among the figures of these brave
men there loom the larger shapes of those who, like Tourville, Duquesne,
and the Bailli de SufEren, won high renown as fleet admirals, inferior
to none of any navy of their day in martial prowess.

In addition to welcoming the diplomatic and ofiicial representatives
of France here present, let me also express my heartiest acknowledg-
ments to our former ambassador to Paris, Gen. Horace Porter, to whose
zealous devotion we particularly owe it that the body of John Paul
Jones has been brought to our shores.

When the body was thus brought over the representatives of many
different cities wrote to me, each asking that it should find its last

15

i6 A d dr e s s e s

resting place in his city. But I feel that the place of all others in
which the memory of the dead hero will most surely be a living force
is here in Annapolis, where year by year we turn out the midshipmen
who are to oflScer in the future the Navy, among whose founders the
dead man stands first. Moreover, the future naval officers, who live
within these walls, will find in the career of the man whose life we this
day celebrate, not merely a subject for admiration and respect, but an
object lesson to be taken into their innermost hearts. Every officer in
our Navy should know by heart the deeds of John Paul Jones. Every
officer in our Navy should feel in each fiber of his being an eager desire
to emulate the energy, the professional capacity, the indomitable deter-
mination and dauntless scorn of death which marked John Paul Jones
above all his fellows.

The history of our Navy, like the history of our nation, extends over
a period of only a century and a quarter ; yet we already have many
memories of pride to thrill us as we read and hear of what has been
done by our fighting men of the sea, from Perry and Macdonough to
Farragut and Dewey." These memories include brilliant victories, and
also, now and then, defeats only less honorable than the victories them-
selves; but the only defeats to which this praise can be given are those
where, against heavy odds, men have stood to the death in hopeless
battle. It is well for every American officer to remember that while
a surrender may or may not be defensible, the man who refuses to
surrender need never make a defense. The one fact must always be
explained; the other needs no explanation. Moreover, he who would
win glory and honor for the nation and for himself, must not too closely
count the odds ; if he does, he will never see such a day as that when
Gushing sank the Albemarle.

In his fight with the Serapis Jones's ship was so badly mauled that
his opponent hailed him, saying "Has your ship struck?" to which
Jones answered, "I have not yet begun to fight." The spirit which
inspired that answer upbore the man who gave it and the crew who
served under him through the fury of the battle, which finall}^ ended

a The President's mention of the name of Admiral Dewey brought forth hearty
applause.

The President, looking directl}- at the Admiral, said in his kindliest manner:
"Presidents are all well enough in their way, but it's worth while in life to have
had a First of May."

The audience again applauded and Rear-Admiral Campion heartily shook the
hand of Admiral Dewey. — ComphER.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 17

in their triumph. It was the same spirit which marked the com-
manders of the Cumberland and the Congress, when they met an equally
glorious though less fortunate fate. The Ctimberland sank, her flag
flying, and her guns firing with the decks awash, while, when sum-
moned to surrender, Morris replied, "Never! I'll sink alongside!"
and made his words good. Immediately after the Cumberland was
sunk the Congress was attacked, and her commander, I,ieut. Joe Smith,
was kiUed. After fighting until she was helpless, and being unable
to bring her guns to bear, the ship was surrendered ; but when Smith's
father, old Commodore Joe Smith, who was -on duty at Washington,
saw by the dispatches from Fort Monroe that the Congress had hoisted
the white flag, he said quietly, "Then Joe's dead!" Surely no father
could wish to feel a prouder certainty of his boy's behavior than the
old commodore showed he possessed when he thus spoke ; and no
naval officer could hope to win a finer epitaph.

We have met to-day to do honor to the mighty dead. Remember
that our words of admiration are but as sounding brass and tinkling
cj-mbals if we do not by steady preparation and by the cultivation of
soul and mind and body fit ourselves so that in time of need we shall
be prepared to emulate their deeds. Let every midshipman who passes
through this institution remember, as he looks upon the tomb of John
Paul Jones, that while no courage can atone for the lack of that
efficiency which comes only through careful preparation in advance,
through careful training of the men, and careful fitting out of the
engines of war, yet that none of these things can avail unless in the
moment of crisis the heart rises level with the crisis. The navy whose
captains will not surrender is sure in the long run to whip the navy
whose captains will surrender, unless the inequality of skill or force is
prodigious. The courage which never yields can not take the place of
the possession of good ships and good weapons and the ability skillfully
to use these ships and these weapons.

I wish that our people as a whole, and especially those among us
who occupy high legislative or administrative positions, would study
the history of our nation, not merely for the purpose of national self-
gratification, but with the desire to learn the lessons that history
teaches. Let the men who talk lightly about its being unnecessarj'
for us now to have an army and navy adequate for the work of this
nation in the world remember that such utterances are not merely
7257-07 2

A d dr e s s e s

foolish, for in their effects they may at any time be fraught with
disaster and disgrace to the nation's honor as well as disadvantage
to its interest. L,et them take to heart some of the lessons which
should be learned by the study of the War of 1812.

As a people we are too apt to remember only that some of our
ships did well in that war. We had a few ships — a very few ships —
and they did so well as to show the utter folly of not having enough
of them. Thanks to our folly as a nation, thanks to the folly that
found expression in the views of those at the seat of government,
not a ship of any importance had been built within a dozen years
before the war began, and the Navy was so small that, when once
the war was on, our opponents were able to establish a close blockade
throughout the length of our coast, so that not a ship could go from
one port to another, and all traffic had to go by land. Our parsi-
mony in not preparing an adequate navy (which would have prevented
the war) cost in the end literally thousands of dollars for every
one dollar we thus foolishly saved. After two years of that war an
utterly inconsiderable British force of about four thousand men was
landed here in the bay, defeated with ease a larger body of raw
troops put against it, and took Washington.

I am sorry to say that those of our countrymen who now speak
of the deed usually confine themselves to denouncing the British for
having burned certain buildings in Washington. They had better
spare their breath. The sin of the invaders in burning the build-
ings is trivial compared with the sin of our own people in failing to
make ready an adequate force to defeat the attempt. This nation
was guilty of such shortsightedness, of such folly, of such lack of
preparation that it was forced supinely to submit to the insult and
was impotent to avenge it; and it was only the good fortune of hav-
ing in Andrew Jackson a great natural soldier that prevented a repe-
tition of the disaster at New Orleans. I<et us remember our own
shortcomings, and see to it that the men in public life to-day are
not permitted to bring about a state of things b>' which we should
in effect invite a repetition of such a humiliation.

We can afford as a people to differ on the ordinary party ques-
tions; but if we are both farsighted and patriotic we can not afford
to differ on the all-important question of keeping the national defenses
as they should be kept; of not alone keeping up, but of going on

John Paul Jones Commemoration 19

with building up of the United States Navy, and of keeping our
small Army at least at its present size and making it the most
efficient for its size that there is on the globe. Remember, you here
who are listening to me, that to applaud patriotic sentiments and to
turn out to do honor to the dead heroes who by land or by sea won
honor for our flag is only worth while if we are prepared to show
that our energies do not exhaust themselves in words; if we are
prepared to show that we intend to take to heart the lessons of the
past and make things ready so that if ever, which heaven forbid,
the need should arise, our fighting men on sea and ashore shall be
able to rise to the standard established by their predecessors in our
services of the past.

Those of you who are in public life have a moral right to be here
at this celebration to-day only if you are prepared to do your part
in building up the Navy of the present; for otherwise you have no
right to claim lot or part in the glory and honor and renown of the
Navy's past.

So much for what we in civil life outside of public office and within
it are to do for you, and must do for you, in the Navy. I,et you in
the Navy remember that you must do your part. You will be worth-
less in war if you have not prepared yourselves for it in peace. You
will be utterly unable to rise to the needs of the crisis if you have not
by long years of steady and patient work fitted yourselves to get the
last ounce of work out of every man, every gun, and every ship in the
fleet; if you have not practiced steadily on the high seas until each
ship can do its best, can show at its best, alone or in conjunction with
others in fleet formation. Remember that no courage can ever atone
for lack of that preparedness which makes the courage valuable ; and
yet if the courage is there, if the dauntless heart is there, its presence
will sometimes make up for other shortcomings ; while if with it are
combined the other military qualities the fortunate owner becomes liter-
ally invincible.

DRESS SWORD PRESENTED BY LOUIS XVI. TO JOHN PAUL JONES.

From plates furnished by the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadel-
phia and published by permission of the owner of the sword,' Mr. Richard
Dale. For description see Appendix,

\

ADDRESS OF AMBASSADOR JUSSERAND

Secretary of the navy charges j. bonaparte introduced

the ambassador in the following words; In those exploits which made
Paul Jones famous, French sailors were his comrades in arms. In the
long and bloody war which gave us national life France was our generous
ally. This day were incomplete without a ivord from France. I ask you
to hear her ambassador.

THE PIOUS action and unconquerable energy of a son of America,
one who served her in war as a general, in peace as an ambas-
sador, has brought back to these shores the ashes of the
famous sailor who first made known to the world that the new
nation just born beyond the seas was meant to be a great nation;
that is, great on land and great on sea. In his search for the sacred
relics of John Paul Jones, General Porter had no help but his patriot-
ism. For a good citizen this is help enough.

The burial which is now awarded to the naval hero is such as he
deserved and it fits the circumstances of his life. This life, as the life
of many other defenders of American independence, offers this char-
acteristic trait : that a French element is, in some way or other, mixed
with it. It is difficult to name Washington without remembering
l,a Fayette and to name Franklin without thinking of his r61e in Paris.
It is the same with Paul Jones, and at this day, when supreme honors
are rendered to his memory, when the Chief of the State has praised
him in words the value of which is immensely enhanced by the char-
acter and personal fame of the orator, it is a fitting circumstance that
French sailors who crossed the ocean for this purpose be now seen
mounting guard round his body.

Paul Jones's connection with things and men of France began early,
and, as most events in his short and brilliant career, was quaint and
romantic. It is a pleasant memory to recall that little scene at a road-
side inn by Alexandria — near the empty plains where the national capi-
tal was one day to rise — that little scene between two young men, one
of foreign appearance, in great trouble to make himself understood and

22 Addresses

get horses to continue his journey, which was toward the Congress
sitting then at Philadelphia; the other "a slender, black-haired, black-
eyed, swarthy gentleman, in a naval uniform and of most martial and
distinguished bearing ' ' (as his chance companion described him later) .
The naval officer proiJered his help, made the innkeeper understand,
and enabled the foreigner to proceed on his journey. The foreigner
was young I<a Fayette, just arrived from France, the other was Paul
Jones. On that day began between them a friendship meant to last as
long as lives which, unknown to either, were to be for both so glorious.

Begun under such auspices, Paul Jones's career continued, more and
more connected with France. In 1777 he crossed the ocean on his
famous Ranger in time to receive the first salute offered by anj^ navy to
the Stars and Stripes. And it is a satisfaction to think that, while the
American ship was commanded by no less a man than Paul Jones, who
was to take the Serapis, the French squadron which returned the salute
was commanded by no less a man than I,a Motte Piquet, who was to
gather his first laurels when fighting for American independence.

During the greatest and most heroical part of his career Paul Jones's
main quarters were in France. There he found not only ships and sup-
plies, but friendship and admiration. French sailors and soldiers were
eager to fight under such a chief, in company with Americans. The
recruiting of these last, owing to the distance, was not always easj-, but
of Frenchmen he naturally had an abundance. On board the Bon-
homme Richard, he said in the last year of his life, "part of the voices
sounded in my native tongue, but more in the language of France."
And the temper of both crews was the same. Concerning his French
volunteers he said on the same occasion : "In case of battle I simply
let my Frenchmen fight their battle out," which is exactly the method
ever followed by American chiefs with American soldiers or sailors.

After each of his campaigns he returned to Paris more and more pop-
ular at court, in society, and among officers, the good will toward him
almost equaling that which everyone there bore to Franklin.

When independence was proclaimed, and that treat j' was signed at
Versailles, which increased by one the number of free nations, the best
days of Paul Jones were over. His fate resembled in this that of his
French brethren of the sea. The sacred cause of independence had
been for most of them the occasion of their life's best work, and fickle
fortune had stood, for once, on the side of the good cause. The work

John Paul Jones C o vi ?n e m o r a t i o n 23

done, fortune abandoned them all; she abandoned to a more or less
unhappy fate d'Estaing, de Grasse, Suffren, and Paul Jones himself.
He died in France, who had proved for him another motherland, and
who honored him dead as she had alive.

But he had done his life's work, and that work consisted not only in
playing splendidly his part in the struggle for freedom, but also in
showing the young Republic the importance of having a navy of her
own. " This is the best means," he wrote as early as 1775, " to create a
great and most desirable sentiment and respect toward us," and he did
not conceal that his dream was to be one of ' ' the pioneers of a new
power on the sea with untold prospect of development."

His dream, or, rather, his prophecy, has been fulfilled. He was one
of those pioneers, and the new power on the sea which he helped to
raise has proved to have indeed an " untold prospect of development."

To no nation can such a development be more welcome than to the
one who first applauded the birth of the incipient American Kavy, and
it is for France a souvenir to be proud of, to remember that the earliest
of those ships meant to carry the thirteen stripes and the ' ' thirteen
stars in a blue field, representing a new constellation," as reads the
resolution of Congress passed in 1777, was the Alliance, an appropriate
name, built exactly on the model of the French frigate La Terpsichore,
the plan of which had been given to Jones by the Duke de Chartres out
of sympathy for America.

Now the smoke of the fights of those heroical days has vanished; per-
ennial independence has been secured and peace has been established —
real peace, fecund peace, the one which sweeps away, or at least allows
the dying out of former animosities and hatred. And such a peace now
reigns and has long and shall long reign, I hope, between the nations
who met then as enemies on land and on sea.

Paul Jones will sleep his last sleep at the place most congenial to his
valiant soul, by the shores of that Chesapeake Bay at the entrance of
which the combined action of Washington, Rochambeau, and de Grasse
ended the war; in that town of Annapolis, where, year after year, are
formed generations of officers who continue their ancestors' traditions on
board the more and more numerous and more and more powerful
American Navy.

In this same town of Annapolis, ever noted for its patriotism, when
the news came that the war was over and independence secured, thirteen

24 Addresses

toasts were drunk, each accompanied with thirteen cannon, and the first
three of those toasts were:

1. "The third of February, 1783, in perpetual memory, on which
day a virtuous war was concluded by an honorable peace."

2. " The United States. May their confederacy endure forever. "

3. ' ' Friendship with France. ' '

In such wishes, after so many years, concur the hearts of all French-
men and all Americans. In such wishes would surely concur the great
heart of the sailor whom we honor on this day.

PROFILE OF BUST FROM DE BIRON COLLECTION.
Published by permission of llie uwner, Mr. J. ricrpont Morgan.

FRONT VlEVy OF BUST FROM DE BIRON COLLECTION.
Published by permissiou of Ihe owner, Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan.

"\

ADDRESS OF GENERAL PORTER

Secretary of the navy chari,es j. bonaparte introduced

the General in the following words: For more than a century the mortal
remains of our first great sailor lay in an unknown grave, lost to his countrj^
and the world. The generosity and patriotism of a distinguished citizen,
already noted for eminent public service in war and peace, have freed us
from this national reproach. I introduce to you General Horace Porter.

THIS day America reclaims her illustrious dead. We gather here
in the presence of the Chief Magistrate of the nation and of this
vast concourse of representative citizens of the Old World and the
New to pay our homage to the leading historic figure in the early annals
of the American Navy, to testify that his name is not a dead memory,
but a living reality, to quicken our sense of appreciation, and to give
assurance that the transfer of his remains to the land upon whose arms
he shed so much luster is not lacking in distinction by reason of the
long delay.

The history of John Paul Jones reads more like romance than reality.
It is more like a fabled tale of ancient days than the story of an Ameri-
can sailor of only a century and a quarter ago. As light and shade
produce the most attractive effects in a picture, so the singular contrasts,
the strange vicissitudes of his eventful life, surround him with an inter-
est that attaches to few of the world's celebrities. His rise from the
humble master's apprentice to the command of conquering squadrons;
his transition from the low-born peasant boy to the favorite of impe-
rial courts; crouching at times within the shadow of obscuritj'', at
other times standing on the highest pinnacle of fame — these are some
of the features of his marvelous career that appeal to the imagination,
excite men's wonder, and fascinate the minds of all who make a study
of his life.

The two distinct natures he possessed lend a peculiar interest to his
personality. He displayed the fierce temerity of the ancient sea kings
combined with the knightly courtesy of mediaeval chivalry. At one
time we find him aboard the Bonhomme Richard, the frail merchantman

25

26 A ddresses

lie had hurriedly converted into a man-of-war, equipped with con-
demned guns, whose explosion early decimated his crew, attacking
the Serapis, a superior British ship, just off her own shores, his vessel
soon a wreck and sinking, most of his guns disabled, half of his motley
crew of Americans and French lying about him dead or dying, the
scuppers running with human blood, his ship a charnel house, over 200
prisoners confined in the hold rushing up from their prison and attack-
ing the remnant of his exhausted crew, his own consort even, with her
treacherous captain, raking his vessel with her fire, flame and smoke
issuing from the lower deck filled with splinters, the mad carnage
raging till it seemed that hell itself had usurped the place of earth, the
undaunted commander in the very thickest of the combat, hatless and
begrimed with powder, the very incarnation of battle, preparing to lead
a boarding party and try this one desperate chance of success, and when
asked by his antagonist, who saw his desperate condition, whether he
had struck his flag, replying, "I've just begun to fight!" Then, by
the inspiration of his example, forging weaklings into giants, capturing
his opponent, snatching victory from defeat, and transferring his crew
to his prize just in time to see his own ship sink beneath the waves
with the flag still floating defiantly from the mast.

At another time we see him arrayed in the height of fashion, display-
ing an easy manner and marked elegance in the brilliant salons of the
most polite courts of Europe, replying gracefully to the compliments of
kings and princes in fluent English, French, and Spanish, showing that
he could tread the polished floor of a royal palace as becomingly as the
blood-stained deck of a man-of-war.

He was a many-sided man. On the water he was the wizard of the
sea ; on the land he showed himself an adept in the realms of diplomacy.
While his exploits as a sailor eclipsed by their brilliancy his triumphs
as a diplomat, he often proved himself a master both of the science of
state craft and the subtleties of diplomacy. He early urged upon the
Government the policy of weakening the blockade so disastrous to the
colonies, which were essentially commercial, by sending war ships into
Great Britain's home waters, attacking her vast commerce on the sea,
compelling her to keep fleets at home to protect it, raiding her coasts,
and bringing to her people an awakening sense of the realities of war
in order that they might tire of it. He aimed to save his prizes, so that
he could exhibit captured British war ships in French ports, show the

John Paul Jones Commemoration 27

people the hopefulness of the cause of the colonies, stimulate the gov-
ernment of that power, and encourage it to send armies and fleets to our
relief.

His chief diplomatic triumph was when he took the captured Serapis
and Countess oj Scarborough into the principal harbor of Holland for the
express purpose of raising irritating questions regarding the rights of
belligerent vessels in neutral ports and embroiling Bngland in a war with
Holland. He undertook this mission of his own initiative and against
the advice of such experienced diplomatists as De Vauguyon, the French
ambassador to Holland, and Dumas, the eminent international lawyer.
By his ingenuity and the signal ability of his correspondence he suc-
ceeded perfectly in his undertaking, and IJngland soon had another foe
arrayed against her. By a rare tact he escaped giving offense to
Holland and at the same time avoided wounding the susceptibilities
of France.

So much was our Government impressed by this and other exhibitions
of his rare diplomatic skill that it intrusted him with the delicate and
difl&cult mission of collecting international claims.

Washington said of him, in a letter addressed to Congressman Hewes:

Mr. Jones is clearly not only a master mariner within the scope of the art of
navigation, but he also holds a strong and profound sense of the political and
military weight of conunand at sea.

Jefferson, by direction of Washington, intrusted him with a diplomatic
mission to Holland to see whether that State could be induced to join
us in an expedition against the pirates of the Barbary coast, and made
known that it was the President's desire to give him command of a
squadron for such a pturpose. But his death intervened before the
necessary ships could be furnished.

Paul Jones had written in French an exceedingly able pamphlet
entitled "Treatise on the Existing State of the French Navy," which
produced a profound impression. Napoleon, when first consul, was so
struck by it that he had it reprinted, and the title-page bore the inscrip-
tion ' ' Written by the great American and Russian Admiral. ' '

When Paul Jones took his prizes into the ports of Holland the English
minister there distinguished himself by constantly alluding in official
correspondence to the conqueror of the Serapis as " a certain Paul Jones,
a pirate." Next to the Admiral's able and complete refutation of this
unfounded characterization, made to the Dutch States-General and

28 Addresses

accepted by them, perhaps his best answer was the explanation he
wittily gave sometime afterwards in a conversation.

Having been alluded to as a pirate [said he] , I looked up the authoritative defini-
tions of that epithet, and found among them ' ' Pirate — one who is at war with man-
kind. ' ' I am holding a regular commission as a naval officer in an honorable service
and making war only upon the armed enemies of my country. England is at war
with America, France, Holland, and Spain, and engaged in provoking war in several
colonies, and it seems to me that she is the pirate, not I.

When he landed a force in England and his sailors carried off a
quantity of silver plate from Lord Selkirk's estate, Paul Jones purchased
it from the crew, who then owned it and counted its value as prize
money, paying for it $700 out of his own pocket, a large sum in those
days, and as soon as he could procure the means of communicating,
returned it and received a handsome acknowledgment from Lord Selkirk.
Lord Dunmore, on the contrary, heading a party of British and Tories,
completely ravaged the plantation on which Paul Jones had established
himself in Virginia, burned to the ground his houses and mill, destroyed
his wharf, killed his cattle, and carried off his able-bodied slaves of both
sexes to be sold in Jamaica. If piracy there was, the record stamps not
Paul Jones, but Lord Dunmore, as the pirate.

One of the most conspicuous traits in the character of our illustrious
sailor was his pronounced and enthusiastic loyalty to America. In a
letter to Jefferson in 1788 he said:

I can never renounce the glorious title of a citizen of the United States.

At another time he wrote :

I do not wish to engage in privateering. My object is not that of private gain,
but to serve the public in a way that may reflect credit on our infant Navy and give
prestige to our country on the sea.

And yet this is the man whom calumny has called a privateersman.

At the outbreak of the Revolution, after he had presented to Con-
gress, by request, his celebrated suggestions for the organization of an
efficient navy — a plan as applicable fundamentally to the service to-day
as then — he wrote:

As this is to be the foundation, or, I may say, the first keel timber of a new navy,
which all patriots must hope shall become the foremost of the world * * *.

And, again:

If by exceedingly desperate fighting one of our ships shall conquer one of theirs
of markedly superior force, we shall be hailed as the pioneers of a new power on
the sea with untold prospects of development.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 29

Prophetic words from the man who was destined to fight just such
a battle.

Paul Jones never sailed in a man-of-war whose quarter-deck was
worthy of being trodden by his feet. His battles were won not by his
ships, but by his genius. Employing the feeble vessels given him or
which he himself procured, he sailed forth boldly to strike the enemies
of his country's liberty wherever he could find them and paused not
till he dipped the fringes of his banners in the home waters of the
mistress of the seas. He captured some sixty vessels from the foremost
of naval powers, made four bold descents upon the land, seized large
quantities of arms and military stores, destroyed more than a million
dollars' worth of property on the sea, and took hundreds of prisoners
whose capture was used to force an exchange and release our men, who
were being slowly tortured to death in the loathsome, pestilential prison
hulks in Brooklyn. Congress afterwards thanked him by resolution
for "his bold and successful enterprises to redeem from captivity the
citizens of these States who had fallen under the power of the enemy."

He was the very personification of valor. He ranked courage as the
manliest of human attributes. He loved brave men ; he loathed cow-
ards. He believed that there was scarcely a sin for which courage
could not atone. He showed this trait in all the aphorisms he uttered,
such as: "Boldness, not caution, wins"; "Men mean more than guns
in the rating of ships " ; "I am not calculating risks, but estimating the
chances of success " ; " The sources of success are quick resolve and
swift stroke " ; " Bravery is that cheerful kind of spirit that makes a
man unable to believe that there is any such word as ' danger ' in the
dictionary, or, if so, not able to see why it should be there."

As long as manly courage is talked of or heroic deeds are honored
there will remain green in the hearts of brave men the talismanic name
of Paul Jones.

The admiral had that tenderness of heart which is usually coupled
with true courage. While he could resort to stern measures in enfor-
cing discipline and suppressing mutiny, he governed his crew more by
attaching them to him by kind acts and just treatment than by corporal
punishment. Referring to his command of the Providence, he wrote :

There was no cat-o'-nine tails aboard, because I threw the only one we had in
the sea the first day out.

Again, he said:

I wish all my men to be contented and happy.

30 Addresses

He was as generous as the sun itself. For a long time he bore all
his personal expenses and abstained from presenting demands for pay
to our poverty-stricken Government. When, in foreign seas, he found
that the Government regulations did not authorize the pay the hand-
bills of overzealous recruiting of&cers had promised to his sailors, he
paid the diflEerence out of his own pocket, so that his gallant crew
should not feel that they were victims of a deception.

For one who lived in an age of loose morals and spent his youthful
years amidst the temptations which then beset a seafaring man in the
merchant service, he was singularly free from every form of dissipation.
He had no fondness for revelry, jolly cofEee-house dinners, or drinking
bouts, which formed the principal amusements in foreign ports. While
others were carousing ashore he was studying in his cabin, perfecting
himself in history and languages, pondering upon the maneuvering of
ships and the grand strategy of naval warfare, and paving the way for
his future victories, which were won first with the brain, then with the
sword.

Among his closest friends and most ardent admirers were Wash-
ington, Jefferson, Franklin, La Fayette, Hamilton, Wayne, Livingston,
the two Morrises, and other eminent Americans. Not bad companion-
ship for a "pirate."

Notwithstanding the gravity of his nature, he at times displayed a
wit that could cut the sting from the keenest criticism and gild dis-
appointment with a pleasantry.

He fashioned epigrams in prose and poetry.

Mrs. Livingston, in speaking of him in her diary as a conversa-
tionalist, said:

He by turns delighted, amazed, and mystified us.

The Dutchess de Chartres wrote:

Not Bayard or Charles le T^m^raire could have laid his helmet at a lady's feet
with such knightly dignity.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil, the French admiral with whom Paul Jones
once made a voyage, said:

His talents are so wonderful and of such diversity that each day he brings
forth some new proof of cleverness.

Franklin spoke of the "strange magnetism of his presence, the
indescribable charm of his manner."

John Paul Jones Commemoration 31

His criticisms and retorts were at times so caustic that they made
him enemies. When Mr. Adams, at a reception in Philadelphia,
attempted to relate an anecdote of Fontenelle in French, Paul Jones,
upon being asked by some friends what he thought of Mr. Adams's
French, replied, without reflecting that the remark might be repeated:

If the political sentiments of Mr. Adams were as English as his French, he
would be easily the greatest Tory in the land.

This came to the ears of Mr. Adams, and it was long before he
forgave the Admiral for the criticism.

But his heart was not often attuned to mirth; its chords were
frequently set to strains of sadness. For years he was engaged in a
struggle against insubordination, treachery, jealousy, neglect at home,
and abuse abroad. The people against whom he fought opened their
floodgates of calumny. No misrepresentation of his acts was too gross,
no distortion of history too monstrous. These well-concerted attacks
of the pen were intended to set him before the Old World in an aspect
that was a vicious caricature of his true nature, and they even gave so
erroneous an impression of him in this country that it has required a
century of time to correct it.

He was too actively engaged in making current history to spare much
time in reading it, but he was once moved to write of his enemies:

One may often correctly gauge one's merits by the virulence of their abuse.

He had to learn that ' ' Reproach is a concomitant to greatness, as
satire and invective were an essential part of a Roman triumph," and
that in public life all arrows wound, the last one kills. He lived to
realize that success is like sunshine, it brings out the vipers, and that
the laurel is a narcotic that prevents others from sleeping.

Worn out with the fatigues of arduous service, at the untimely age
of 45, alone in a foreign land, he surrendered to death, the only foe to
whom he ever lowered his colors. By some strange and unaccountable
fatality he was covered immediately with the mantle of forgetfulness.
In all the annals of history there is not another case in which death has
caused the memory of so conspicuous a man to drop at once from the
height of prominence to the depth of oblivion.

He had been counted as one of the rarest contributions to earth's con-
tingent of master spirits. He enjoyed the unique distinction of being

32 A d dr e s s e s

the first to hoist the present form of our flag upon an American man-of-
war, the first to receive a salute to it from a foreign power, the first to
raise it upon a hostile war ship of superior strength captured in battle,
and under his command that banner was never once dethroned from its
proud supremacy. He is the only commander in history who ever
landed an American force upon a European coast.

Congress complimented him by a resolution, voted him a medal to
commemorate his greatest victory, and awarded him the privilege of the
floor of both Houses ; he received a similar favor from the Constitutional
Convention ; the people of this and other lands organized public demon-
strations in his honor; France knighted him, Louis XVI presented him
with a gold-mounted sword, Denmark pensioned him, Catharine of
Russia created him an admiral, conferred upon him imperial decorations,
and loaded him with marks of distinction. If he had lived a little
longer, he would in all probability have been named admiral of France.
The rugged sailor had compelled the recognition of genius ; the Scottish
peasant boy had broken down the barriers of caste.

In life he was perhaps the most conspicuous personage on two con-
tinents, and yet the moment he was placed beneath the ground some
strange fate seemed to decree that he was to be snatched from history
and relegated to fiction. No inscription was engraved upon his coffin,
no statue was erected in his honor, no ship was given his name, no
public building was called after him. It required six years of
research to find the apartment in which he had lived in Paris and
held his brilliant salons, which were attended by the foremost celebrities
of the period, and as long a time to discover his unmarked and
forgotten grave.

When finally his exact place of burial had been definitely located by
authentic documents and other positive evidence, the ground exhibited
so repulsive an appearance that the aspect was painful beyond expres-
sion. There was presented the spectacle of a hero who had once been
the idol of the American people lying for more than a century, like an
obscure outcast, in an abandoned cemetery which had been covered later
by a dump pile to a height of 15 feet, where dogs and horses had been
buried, and the soil was soaked with polluted waters from undrained
laundries. As busy feet tramped over the ground, the spirit of the hero
who lay beneath might well have been moved to cry, in the words of the
motto on his first flag, not in defiance, but in supplication then, "Don't

John Paul Jones Commemoration 33

tread on me." No American citizen, upon contemplating on the spot
those painful circumstances, could have shrunk from an attempt to secure
for his remains a more deserving sepulcher.

When the body was exhumed, it was fortunately found perfectly pre-
served, with all the flesh intact, in consequence of having been buried
in a leaden cof&n filled with alcohol — the usual method of embalming in
those days. There were only five leaden coflBns in the entire cemetery,
four of which were identified as those of strangers. While the features
of the body in the fifth cofl&n were easily recognizable when compared
with the accurate busts and medals of Paul Jones, while his initials were
found upon the linen and the identity was convincing from the first,
yet it was deemed prudent, on account of the importance of the subject,
to submit the body to a thorough scientific examination by the most
competent experts in the profession of anthropology, in order that the
proofs might be authoritatively established and ofiicially placed on record.
The most eminent scientists of France, to whom we owe a lasting debt of
gratitude, contributed their efforts to this task in the presence of the
members of the American embassy and the consulate and the highest
officials of the municipality of Paris.

The identification was rendered easy and was established with abso-
lute certainty by reason of the authentic busts and medals obtainable
for making the comparative measurements, the abundance of accurate
information in existence descriptive of the dead, and the excellent
state of preservation of the body, due to the alcohol, which enabled
the scientists to perform an autopsy that verified in every particular
the disease of which it was known the subject had died.

Twelve American or French persons took part in the identification,
and after six days passed in the application of every conceivable test,
their affirmative verdict was positive and unanimous and was formally
certified to under the official seals of their respective departments, as
may be seen from their reports filed with the Government, both in
Washington and in Paris.

All that is mortal of the conqueror of the Serapis lies in yonder
coffin. He bore the standard of his country for the first time to
France; he returned with it draped upon his bier. That generous land,
our traditional friend and former ally, now sends a squadron of her
noble war ships to unite in doing honor to the memory of an illustrious
brother sailor.

7257—07 3

34 Addresses

When Congress adopted the present form of the American flag, it
embodied in the same resolution the appointment of Capt. John Paul
Jones to command the ship Ranger. When he received the news
history attributes to him this remark: "The flag and I are twins; born
the same hour, from the same womb of destiny, we can not be parted
in life or in death." Alas! they were parted during a hundred and
thirteen years, but, happily, they are now reunited.

It was deemed well to bring back his body, in the belief that it would
bring back his memory. Time has shed a clearer light upon his acts ;
distance has brought him into the proper focus to be viewed. A tree is
best measured when it is down. His honored remains will be laid to
rest in this historic spot in a mausoleum befitting his fame, but his
true sepulcher will be the hearts of his countrymen. Generations yet
to come will pause to read the inscription on his tomb, and its mute
eloquence will plead for equal sacrifice should war again threaten the
nation's life.

He was a lesson to his contemporaries; he will ever be an inspiration
to his successors, for example teaches more than precept and patterns
are better followed than rules.

He was taken all too soon from the living here to join the other living,
commonly called the dead. When he passed the portals of eternity,
earth mourned one hero less. We shall not meet him till he stands
forth to answer to his name at roll call when the great of earth are
summoned on the morning of the last great reveille. Till then, fare-
well, noblest of all spirits, bravest of all hearts. The simplicity of the
rugged sailor was mingled with the heroic grandeur of your nature.
Wherever blows fell thickest, your crest was in their midst. The
story of your life rises to the sublimity of an epic. Untitled knight of
the blue waters, "Wrathful Achilles of the Ocean," conqueror of the
conquerors of the sea, the recollection of your deeds will never cease
to thrill men with the splendor of events and inspire them with the
majesty of achievement. You honored the generation in which you
lived, and future ages will be illumined by the brightness of your glory.

ADDRESS OP GOVERNOR WARFIELD

Secretary of the navy CHARI,ES J. BONAPARTE introduced the
Governor in the following words: Paul Jones was an immigrant; a na-
tive of none of our States; his glory belongs to them all. To speak for the
thirteen he served and for the thirty-two since admitted to share the bless-
ings of our national liberty and national greatness, we call upon that one
which has given the nation its seat of rule and his remains their resting
place. I present to you the Governor of Maryland.

AFTER the clear and striking portrayals of the character and genius
of John Paul Jones, to which we have just listened with so much
pleasure and profit, it would be superfluous to dwell further
upon his personal traits or his wonderful naval achievements.

Whatever else may be said of him, there can be no doubt that the
love of liberty was the master passion of his soul, and that he longed
to have his name and fame associated with his adopted country,
America.

What a remarkable fulfillment of that longing is this unique event,
this splendid inspiring audience.

If "Honor's voice could provoke the silent dust, and flattery soothe
the dull, cold ear of Death," then would this dead hero have heard
the tribute, paid him one hundred and fourteen j^ears after his death,
by the patriotic President of the Republic which he helped to found —
a Republic which has grown from a confederation of thirteen feeble
struggling colonies to a mighty Union of forty-five sovereign States,
with eighty millions of people.

When the news was flashed across the Atlantic just one year ago

that Ambassador Porter's five years of weary searching had been

crowned with success, that he had found and identified the remains of

John Paul Jones, I at once, as governor of this State, urged through

the public press that his body should be brought here for final

entombment, upon the historic soil of Maryland, in yonder beautiful

memorial chapel, which is destined to be the Westminster Abbey for

our naval heroes.

35

36 A ddr e s s c s

Upon what more hallowed or appropriate ground could the ashes of
this brilliant sea fighter rest? Would he not himself have selected
this in 'preference to all other places?

Maryland is the birthplace, the nursery, of the American Navy.
Here are trained the men whose duty it is to maintain the prestige and
the power of our country upon the seas of the world.

In the beginning of our national history Maryland fitted out to
support the patriot cause, at her own expense, a dozen war vessels.
They were small, yet they did splendid service.

Joshua Barney, a Marylander, the first commodore of our Navy, the
hero of two wars, commanded one of these vessels, and flung to the
breeze in Maryland the first continental flag.

A Marylander, Samuel Nicholson, was a lieutenant under John Paul
Jones on the Bonhomme Richard in the battle with the Serapis, and
was later the first commander of the historic Constitution.

A Marylander, Stephen Decatur, in the war with Tripoli, with eighty
men, cut out the Philadelphia, manned by fivefold his own force, and
surrounded by hostile batteries and war vessels.

You, Mr. President, in your admirable and exhaustive History of
the Naval War of 181 2, pronounce this one of the boldest expeditions
of the kind on record, and Lord Nelson declared it to be the most
daring act of the age.

A Marylander, Midshipman Joseph Israel, was one of the officers who
perished on the night of September 14, 1804, in the harbor of Tripoli,
in the attempt to destroy the Tripolitan fleet.

A Marylander, Jesse Duncan Elliott, performed a feat on Lake
Erie similar to that of Decatur in Tripoli, when he captured the Detroit
and the Caledonia.

A Marylander, Commodore John Rodgers, fired the first gun in the
brilliant naval war of 181 2.

During that war Maryland furnished forty-six officers — one-fifth of
the total number — more than were furnished by any other State, and
more than by all New England combined.

In the number of privateers fitted out Maryland again heads the list,
and you, Mr. President, estimate that she furnished at least one-eighth
of all the sailors in that war.

In the war with Mexico, Maryland was equally prominent in the
Navy, and it was a son of Maryland, Capt. W. A. T. Maddox, of the

John Paul Jones Commemoration 2i7

Marine Corps, who first raised the Stars and Stripes over that portion
of our land which Hes along the Pacific.

I will not dwell upon Maryland's naval record in the civil war. She
furnished many gallant men who wore the blue and many equally
gallant men who wore the gray in that unfortunate contest.

Maryland's record in the Spanish war is fresh in our memories. The
list of her sons who fought in that war is a long one, and I have not
time to mention them all.

But one name stands out conspicuously — the name of whom all Mary-
landers are justly proud — Winfield Scott Schley.

This Academj', the alma mater of many distinguished naval officers,
renowned in peace no less than in war, who have upheld the glory of
our flag, was organized by a son of Maryland — the gallant Admiral
Franklin Buchanan, its first superintendent.

The present head of this institution, Admiral Sands, under whose
direction such excellent work is being done to-day, is of Maryland
stock, and it is a pleasing coincidence that our able and accomplished
Secretary of the Navy, who is presiding over these ceremonies, is also a
native of our State.

Paul Jones, on the Ranger, flew the flag of our country on the high
seas which was first saluted by a foreign power. He loved that flag,
and often exclaimed: "The flag and I are twins, born the same hour
and from the same womb of destiny'."

A Mary lander immortalized in verse that ' ' Star-Spangled Banner. ' '
How fitting, then, that the ashes of Francis Scott Key and John Paul
Jones should forever rest upon the soil of Maryland.

This is sacred ground upon which we stand. Here, on October 19,
1774, the first overt act against the authority of the King of England
took place.

Anthony Stewart had, in violation of the nonimportation act, brought
into this harbor a cargo of tea in his brig Peggy Stewart.

This open defiance of the colonists aroused their indignation and
stirred their spirit of vengeance.

Stewart, realizing his peril, abjectly apologized for his act and offered
to destroy the tea. This did not satisfy the aroused patriots and Sons
of I,iberty.

Down from the back hills and up from the lowlands of Maryland
the young patriots, led by men of bold and determined spirit and bearing

38 Addresses

aloft a banner upon which was inscribed "lyiberty, or death in pursuit
of it," rode to Annapolis.

Assembling in front of yonder old brick house, their leader, address-
ing Stewart, said: "You must burn your ship and its cargo of tea or
hang. ' '

Stewart chose not to hang, and forthwith, accompanied by the chief
of the band of patriots, boarded his brig and applied the torch; and she,
with her cargo, was burned to the water's edge.

For this act these young Sons of lyiberty were called by the loyalists
"Mohocks." For capturing the Drake and the Serapis John Paul
Jones was characterized by the British a pirate and freebooter.

The tea burning at Boston is renowned as an act of unexampled
daring at that day in the defense of American liberty; but this
tea burning at Annapolis far surpassed it in utter carelessness of
concealment.

It was an instance of the most open and determined opposition to
the oppressive measures of the British Government.

This ancient city has always been animated by a spirit of patriotism.

In that old statehouse the colonists met in July, 1775, a year before
the Declaration of Independence, resolved to throw ofi the British
yoke, and for that purpose formed the Association of Freemen of
Maryland.

It was in the senate chamber in that venerable building that George
Washington, on the 23d day of December, 1783, handed back to Con-
gress his commission to command the Revolutionary forces.

In that same chamber, on January 14, 1784, the treatj- of peace
between Great Britain and the colonies was ratified by the Conti-
nental Congress.

In that same room, in September, 1786, there was held, at the sug-
gestion of George Washington, a convention composed of representa-
tives from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia,
and Maryland.

Its deliberations resulted in the calling of a convention, out of which
grew that sublime instrument, the charter of our liberties, the Constitu-
tion of the United States.

Where, then, Mr. President, could you have found a more appro-
priate spot for the final resting place for the body of John Paul
Jones?

John Paul Jones Commemoration 39

Here it will repose amid the associations and the memorials con-
nected with the history of our Navy, an ever-present inspiration to the
young men who are here trained for service upon the sea.

As illustrating the value of an example of fighting qualities, I am
reminded of an incident told by Admiral Dewey when he laid the
corner stone of the memorial chapel here.

He said that a friend had asked him what thoughts were uppermost
in his mind as he entered Manila Bay on May i, 1898, when he
destroyed the Spanish fleet and won that glorious victory.

Replying, he said : "I was thinking of what Farragut would do if
he were here."

The American nation owes you. General Porter, a debt of gratitude
for the patriotic work you did in searching for these remains.

At 3'our own expense, with unflagging determination and devotion,
you undertook and carried through to success what was declared by
many to be a hopeless quest.

Your achievement is a source of great pride to your compatriots of
the patriotic societies of our country and has aroused anew their enthu-
siasm in carrying out the purposes of their respective organizations.

Especially is this true of the society of the Sons of the American
Revolution, over which at one time you presided as president- general.

All Americans, and especially we of Maryland, will ever hold you
an unselfish patriot — one who loves his country and her splendid
traditions.

The people of the United States can never forget the aid that France
rendered our patriot fathers when they were struggling for freedom
from British rule. Her generous services made the independence of
the colonies possible. So, sir, the gratitude of the American people
to France will continue forever.

La Fayette occupies a place in our hearts second only to that of
Washington, and a monument stands on our Capitol Hill to De Kalb,
who fell while leading Maryland troops in the hard-fought battle of
Camden.

The French troops under command of La Fayette and Rochambeau
encamped here in 1781 on the way to York town, and again in 1782 on
their return after the surrender of Cornwallis.

Their presence here, in March, 1781, saved our city from sack and
the capitol from destruction by the British fleet, then in the Chesa-
peake Bay.

40 Addresses

So, Mr. Ambassador Jusserand, you can understand the pleasure I
feel, as chief executive of Maryland, in extending to you and the
oflScers and sailors of the fleet of your nation a heartfelt welcome to
the shores of our old Commonwealth — a Commonwealth that has been
associated so closely with your own country through the services of so
many of your distinguished patriots and brave sailors and soldiers.

May the friendship founded on these services, and cemented by the
blood of the two nations, last through all the years to come.

JOHN PAUL JONES.
From pa.nt„,g by M,ss Beaux, P--m^ed ^ tt^ciass of :SS: to United States Naval

PRAYER OF CHAPLAIN CLARK

U. S. NAVY

Our Heavenly Father : We thank Thee for the memory of the one
whom we honor to-day ; for the insight and bravery which he carried
to the crowning act of his life, the act that so inspired and strengthened
the hearts of the people in their great struggle for nationality. We
thank Thee for the sympathy and the material support so freely given
him by the great nation beyond the sea. And now may there come to
our whole people a quickejied perception of how great a thing it is to
be citizens of this land ; to be possessors of such a material inheritance ;
to have national ideals that may be pursued with utmost Christian
earnestness, perseverance, and devotion. And may all have an ever-
deepening sense of dependence upon Thee for the gifts that are our
distinction and joy as a nation. And Thy name shall have the glor}'.
Amen.

41

M^ i ji ii - i ii Limi . i M » pu.i^Miiiij. » j« ii ii.i,..v,ji4iB^|l l i ) iBpjMjj l BJH i [jyVj l ^^^ ' " *»!

' '^t9//// -^r///y -yoz/rj

T^-I.s hi)mnu ■=. r.irttnoni \\' pcuvi.'nl |.i|i.(tnk-r ,

Prom engraving by Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune, Paris, 17S1, original in possession of tlie

Bostonian Society.

II. PAPERS AND REPORTS

DISCOVERY, IDENTIFICATION, AND TRANSFER OF
REMAINS OF JOHN PAUL JONES

MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT

To the Senate and House of Represejitatives :

For a number of years efforts have been made to confirm the his-
torical statement that the remains of Admiral John Paul Jones were
interred in a certain piece of ground in the city of Paris then owned
by the Government and used at the time as a burial place for foreign
Protestants. These efforts have at last resulted in documentary proof
that John Paul Jones was buried on July 20, 1792, between 8 and 9
o'clock p. m., in the now abandoned cemetery of St. Louis, in the
northeastern section of Paris. About 500 bodies were interred there,
and the body of the admiral was probably among the last hundred
buried. It was incased in a leaden co£5n, calculated to withstand the
ravages of time.

The cemetery was about 130 feet long by 120 feet wide. Since its
disuse as a burial place the soil has been filled to a level and covered
almost completely by buildings, most of them of an inferior class.

The American ambassador in Paris, being satisfied that it is practicable
to discover and identify the remains of John Paul Jones, has, after pro-
longed negotiations with the present holders of the property and the
tenants thereof, secured from them options in writing which give him
the right to dig in all parts of the property during a period of three
months for the purpose of making the necessary excavations and
searches, upon condition of a stated compensation for the damage and
annoyance caused by the work. The actual search is to be conducted
by the chief engineer of the municipal department of Paris having
charge of subterranean works at a cost which has been carefully esti-
mated. The ambassador gives the entire cost of the work, including the
options, compensation, cost of excavating, and caring for the remains,
as not exceeding 180,000 francs, or $35,000, on the supposition that

43

44 Papers and Reports

the body may not be found until the whole area has been searched.
If earlier discovered, the expense would be proportionately less.

The great interest which our people feel in the story of Paul Jones's
life, the national sense of gratitude for the great service done by him
toward the achievement of independence, and the sentiment of min-
gled distress and regret felt because the body of one of our greatest
heroes lies forgotten and unmarked in foreign soil, lead me to approve
the ambassador's suggestion that Congress should take advantage of
this unexpected opportunity to do proper honor to the memory of Paul
Jones, and appropriate the sum of $35,000, or so much thereof as may
be necessary, for the purposes above described, to be expended under
the direction of the Secretary of State.

The report of Ambassador Porter, with the plans and photograph of
the property, is annexed hereto.

In addition to the foregoing recommendation, I urge that Congress
emphasize the value set by our people upon the achievements of the
naval commanders in our war of independence by providing for the
erection of appropriate monuments to the memory of two, at least, of
those who now lie in undistinguished graves — John Paul Jones and John
Barry. These two men hold unique positions in the history of the
birth of our Navy. Their services were of the highest moment to
the young Republic in the days when it remained to be determined
whether or not she should win out in her struggle for independence.
It is eminently fitting that these services should now be commemorated
in suitable manner.

Theodore Roosevelt.

The White House, February 13, 1905.

AMBASSADOR PORTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
[Telegram.]

Paris, April 14., 1905.
My six years' search for remains of Paul Jones has resulted in success.
Having explored the old St. Louis cemetery, where Admiral was buried
in leaden coffin, and where I had verified the facts that all the dead
remained entirely undisturbed, I found only four coffins of lead. The
first three bore plates giving names and dates of burial, the fourth was
in solidity of construction and workmanship much superior to the
others. Like them was similar in shape to mummy coffins, widening
from feet to shoulders with small round top to fit head, like all coffins
of that period. No plate could be found; one may have been put on
outer wooden coffin, few vestiges of which are left. Another corpse
had been buried immediately on top. Appearances indicate that in
digging that grave wooden coffin had been partly stripped off. Plate

Jo h 71 Pa ul J on e s Commemoration 45

may then have been carried away. On opening coffin body fortunately
found quite well preserved, coffin having been filled with alcohol, but
which had evaporated, and body carefully packed in straw. As I
predicted in a former report, coffin contained neither uniform, sword,
nor decorations. It was discovered in one of the spots where I
expected to find it. I took it to the School of Medicine, where Doctors
Capitan and Papillault, the distinguished professors of the School of
Anthropology, well known for their large experience in such matters,
were charged with removing the body from the coffin and making
minute examination for purposes of identification. They were fur-
nished with medallions, portraits, Houdon's two busts, authentic
measurements, description of color of hair, and all the mass of infor-
mation which had been collected regarding Paul Jones's appearance.
The following facts were fully substantiated: Length of body, 5 feet 7
inches, Paul Jones's exact height; head in size and shape identical with
head of Paul Jones, hair on head and body dark brown, same as that of
Paul Jones, in places slightly gray, indicating person of his age, 45
years; high forehead, hair long, combed back, reaching below his
shoulders gathered in a clasp at back of neck, curled in two rolls on
temples; face clean shaven, corresponding exactly with descriptions,
portraits, and busts of the Admiral. Buried in shirt and wrapped in
sheet; linen in good condition, bearing a small initial worked with
thread, either a "J " or, if read upside down, a "P." Coffin very solid.
Body carefully preserved and packed. Limbs wrapped with tin foil,
evidently for purpose of sea transportation a long distance, as indicated
in an authentic letter of his particular friend and pallbearer, Colonel
Blackden, which says: " His body was put into a leaden coffin on the
20th that in case the United States, which he had so essentially served
and with so much honor, should claim his remains they might be more
easily removed. ' ' Autopsy showed distinct proofs of disease of which
Admiral is known to have died. Identification complete in every par-
ticular. Detailed reports of all facts duly certified by participants and
witnesses will go by mail. Will have remains put in suitable casket
and deposited in receiving vault of American Church till decision
reached as to most appropriate means of transportation to America.

Porter.

THE ACTING SECRETARY OF STATE TO AMBASSADOR PORTER

[Telegram.]

Department of State,
Washington, April 75, /poj.
The Department has great pleasure in sending cordial congratulations
upon your success in finding body of Paul Jones.

LOOMIS.

4-6 Papers and Reports

THE ACTING SECRETARY OF STATE TO AMBASSADOR PORTER

[Telegram.]

Department of State,
Washington, April ij, 1905.
The Government will send a naval squadron to bring back the remains
of Jones. Some time in June is suggested as convenient period.

I^OOMIS.

AMBASSADOR PORTER TO THE SECRETARY OP STATE
[Telegram.]

American Embassy,

Paris, April 20, 1905.
Thanks for congratulations. Any time month of June would be good
season for arrival of fleet. Deposited remains to-day in vault American
church incased in original cof&n, a leaden casket and oak coflSn covered
with American flag.

Porter.

THE SECRETARY OP STATE TO GENERAD PORTER
[Telegram.]

Department of State,
Washington, June 20, igo^.
Obtain permission to land military force under arms from Rear-
Admiral Sigsbee's squadron as escort for body Paul Jones.

Hay.

LETTER FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF STATE TO GENERAI,

PORTER

Department of State,
Washington , June 27, igo§.

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of
the 2d instant, transmitting a memorandum of the exact method pur-
sued in recoffining the body of John Paul Jones for transporation to the
United States.

I have caused a copy of your communication to be sent to the Navy
Department for the completion of its files in connection with the
subject.

As this memorandum completes your most interesting and valuable
report, I beg leave to tender the Department's hearty congratulations

John Paul Jones Comtnemoration 47

on the successful termination of your patriotic and zealous efforts, which
have brought about an occurrence of not only historic but of scientific
importance.

I am, etc., Herbert H. D. Peirce.

THK ACTING SECRETARY OF STATE TO AMBASSADOR McCORMICK

[Telegram.]

Department of State,
Washington , June jo, ipo§.
General Porter has been appointed by the President special ambas-
sador, and from his late position will be considered as the senior of the
two special ambassadors to arrange on behalf of the United States for
the reception of the body of Paul Jones. In the actual delivery of the
body General Porter, as special ambassador, will deliver it to Special
Ambassador I^oomis. This * * * is designed by this Government
to recognize General Porter's great ser\'ices, and at the same time to
show the keen interest of the Government by having sent over a special
ambassador to assist at the function.

Peirce.

DESCRIPTION OF THE THREE FOIyLOWING ILLUSTRA-
TIONS

THE LIFE SIZE HOUDON BUST OF PAUL JONES — VIEWED FROM THE
SAME ANGLE AS THE HEAD ON THE SECOND FOLLOWING PAGE AND
REPRODUCED ON THE SAME SCALE

[From plaster cast in the Trocadero, Paris.]

In the comparison attention should be paid especially to the contour of the brow;
the arch of the eyebrows; the width between the eyes; the high cheek bones; the
muscles of the face; and the distances between the hair and the root of the nose,
between the subnasal point and the lips, and between the lips and the point of the
chin. The peculiar shape of the lobe of the ear in the bust is the exact counterpart
of that observed in the body, but is lost in shadow in the photograph on the second
following page. — H. P.

THE HEAD OF THE RECOVERED BODY OF JOHN PAUL JONES

This photograph, taken after the examination of Paul Jones's body for identifica-
tion, is interesting as showing the well-preserved condition of the flesh. The carti-
laginous portion of the nose had been bent over to the right, pressed down, and
entirely distorted. This disfigurement was clearly due to the fact that when the body
was put in the coffin an excess of the hay-and-straw packing had been placed under
the head and the mass of long hair had been gathered into the linen cap at the back.
This raised the face so high that the coffin lid pressed upon it. This pressure had
been so great that the head itself was found turned a little to the right. The angle
at which the photograph was taken causes the disfigured nose to look as if it were
Roman in shape, the end being bent over and depressed, giving the bridge an unnat-
ural prominence. The bony part of the nose is pronounced by the scientists as
entirely compatible with the undulating outline seen on the authentic busts. The
other features conform strictly to those of the busts, as proved by the anthropometric
measurements. The general expression of the face is not as good as if it had been
taken immediately after opening the coffin. The skin has shrunk and the lips have
contracted by exposure to the air, showing the edges of the teeth, which were not
visible at first. The hair, which was found neatly dressed, is in disorder, and could
not be rearranged, as an attempt to comb it revealed a danger of pulling it out. The
oblique lines on the face were made by creases in the winding sheet, and the right
shoulder bears marks caused by the force used in packing the body firmly with hay
and straw. — H. P.

THE COMPOSITE PRINT OF THE BUST AND FACE OF JOHN PAUL JONES

This composite print in a light-colored ink shows the agreement of the two fol-
lowing prints of the plaster bust and the human head.
48

HOUDON BUST OF JOHN PAUL JONES,
From plaster cast in the Trocadero Museum, I'aris.

THE HEAD OF JOHN PAUL JONES.

OOMPuSlTE OF THE TWO PRECEDING PRINTS, SHOWING THE REMARKABLE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE PLASTER BUST AND THE HUMAN HEAD

A

REPORT OF GENERAL PORTER

UPON assuming charge of our embassy in Paris and finding myself
among the old landmarks, which are still honored there as recall-
ing the many historic incidents in the sojourn of Paul Jones in
that brilliant capital, I felt a deep sense of humiliation as an American
citizen in realizing that our first and most fascinating naval hero had
been hdng for more than a century in an unknown and forgotten grave,
and that no serious attempt had ever been made to recover his remains
and give them appropriate sepulture in the land upon whose history
he had shed so much luster.

Knowing that he had been buried in Paris, I resolved to undertake
personally a systematic and exhaustive search for the body.

The investigation began in June, 1899. The first step was to study
all the writings obtainable relating to him, including official documents.
The certificate of his burial had been registered, but the register had
been placed with other archives of the city of Paris in an annex of the
Hotel de Ville, situated on Victoria avenue, and had been destroyed
with other important records when the Government buildings were
burned by the Commune in May, 1871. Fortunately, in 1859, Mr.
Charles Read, an archseologist, investigator, and writer of note, had
made a transcript of the register in which this certificate was recorded,
and I finally succeeded in securing a correct copy. The following is an
English translation of this interesting document:

To-day, July 20, 1792, year IV of Liberty, at 8 o'clock in the evening, conformably
to the decree of the National Assembly of yesterday, in presence of the delegation of
the said assembly, composed of Messrs. Brun, president of the delegation of the said
assembly; Bravet, Cambon, Rouyer, Brival, Deydier; Gay \'ernon, bishop of the
Department of Haute- Vienne; Chabot, Episcopal vicar of the Department of Loir-et-
Cher; Carlier, Petit, Le Josnes, Robouame; and of a deputation of the consistory of
the Protestants of Paris, composed of Messrs. Marron the pastor, Perreaux, Benard,
Marquis Mouquin, and Umpaytaz, anciens, was buried in the cemetery for foreign
Protestants, Jean Paul Jones, native of England and citizen of the United States of
America, senior naval oflScer in the service of the said States, aged 45 3'ears, died
the i8th of this month at his residence situated at No. 42 Rue de Tournon, from
dropsy of the chest, in the faith of the Protestant religion. The said burial was
made in our presence by Pierre Francois Simonneau, commissary of the King for
this section and commissary of police for the Ponceau section, in presence of M.
Samuel Blackden, colonel of dragoons in the service of the State of North Carolina
and a citizen of the United States of America; J. C. Mountfiorence, formerly major
in the service of the United States; Marie Jean Baptiste Benoist Beaupoil, formerly
a French officer, residing in Paris at No. 7 Passage des Petits Peres; and of Louis
7257—07 4 49

50 Papers and Reports

Nicolas Villeminot, the officer commanding the detachment of the grenadiers of the
gendarmerie which escorted the delegation of the assembly; and others who have
signed with us.

Brun; Gay Vernon, bishop and deputy; Deydier, deputy from the department of
Ain; Rouyer; Benard; Francois Chabot; J. C. Mountflorence; Petit; Cambon fils
ain^; Bravet; Beaupoil; P. H. Carlier; Durvosque; Lafontaine; Simonneau; Jacques
Brival; Villeminot; Robouame; deputy; Marron; Perreaux; Mouquin; Empaytaz;
R. Ghiselin, of Maryland; S. Blackden; Griffith, of Philadelphia.

Historians had differed as to the date of the death; the above-quoted
certificate of burial fixes it definitely on July i8, 1792.

The best description of Paul Jones's last moments is given in a letter
received a month after the funeral by his elder sister, Mrs. Jenny
Taylor (sometimes spelled in the official documents Jeanne, Janet, and
Janette), in Scotland, written by his intimate friend, a witness of his
will and a pallbearer at his funeral, Col. Samuel Blackden, a planter
from North Carolina, who had served with distinction in the American
Revolution, and was in Paris on business at the time of Paul Jones's
last illness and death. The following is an extract from his letter:

But for two months past he began to lose his appetite, grew yellow, and showed
symptoms of jaundice. For this he took medical treatment and for a short time
seemed to grow better. A few days before his death his legs began to swell, which
proceeded upward to his body, so that for two days before his decease he could
not button his waistcoat and had great difficulty in breathing.

I visited him every day, and, beginning to be apprehensive of his danger, desired
him to settle his affairs; but he would not take that view of it, and put off the mak-
ing of his will until the afternoon of July 18, when he was prevailed upon to send
for a notary and made his will. M. Beaupoil and myself witnessed it and left him
sitting in a chair in his parlor. A few minutes after we retired he walked into his
chamber and laid himself upon his face on the bedside, with his feet on the floor.
The Queen's physician, who was attending him, came soon after, and on entering
the apartment found him in that position, and on trying to lift him up found that
he had expired. His disorder had terminated in dropsy of the heart. His body
was put into a leaden coffin on the 20th, that, in case the United States, which he
had so essentially served and with so much honor, should claim his remains they
might be more easily removed.

M. Beaupoil, whom he mentioned, was a major in the French army
and an aid-de-camp to La Fayette, with whom he had served in the
American Revolution.

I had been misled for some time by having been furnished with an
alleged copy of the certificate of bui'ial published in the ' ' Bulletin of
the Society of the History of Protestantism," in which there had been
omitted after the word ' ' anciens, ' ' doubtless through an error of the
copyist, the following all-important phrase: " Was buried in the ceme-
tery for foreign Protestants." Besides this, eight words of minor
significance had been omitted. The fact that the French construction
was defective without some additional words led to another search, and
in the Bibliotheque Nationale was at last found a magazine called the

John Paul Jones Commemoration 51

' ' Correspondance Litteraire, ' ' containing an article by Charles Read, giv-
ing the correct copy of the certificate of burial, which he had made from
the register referred to and of which the above is a translation. The
article expressed the conviction of Mr. Read that the cemetery for
foreign Protestants was the long-since abandoned and almost forgotten
cemetery of Saint Louis, situated upon a street formerly called
L'Hopital Saint lyouis, at present Grange-aux-Belles.

As some writers had expressed, however vaguely, different opinions,
I instituted a long and exhaustive search to verify the grounds upon
which Mr. Read had based his belief.

Public records were found showing that in 1720 the Government, at
the instigation of Holland, had set aside a lot for the burial of foreign
Protestants near the Porte Saint Martin, called the "Saint Martin
Cemetery," but which was closed in 1762. The Saint Louis Cemetery
for foreign Protestants was opened about that time and ofiicially closed
in January, 1793, six months after Paul Jones's decease, although some
interments were made thereafter.

The custodian in charge of each of these cemeteries was named
' ' Corro}^ ' ' and it was ascertained from certain old documents discov-
ered that the position had descended from father to son, which was
evidence tending to show that the Saint Louis was the immediate suc-
cessor of the Porte Saint Martin Cemetery. A copy was afterwards
found of a decree regarding the burial of foreign Protestants, issued
May 26, 1781, officially confirming this fact, and approved by De Ver-
gennes, minister of foreign affairs under Louis XVI. From this decree
have been taken the following extracts :

By an order of council of June 20, 1720, it was decreed that there should be desig-
nated a place for the burial of the bodies of foreign Protestants. The ground which
was chosen was situated near the Porte Saint Martin. * ■« *

In the year 1762 the cemetery was transferred behind the Saint Louis Hospital.

This description clearly designated the Saint Louis Cemetery. To
endeavor to obtain some authentic information as to whether there were
any other cemeteries for foreign Protestants in existence at the time,
and whether any further corroborative evidence could be found regard-
ing the burial place of the Admiral, an examination requiring several
months was made of all the journals and periodicals obtainable of about
the date of the funeral, which took place July 20, 1792. Access was
had to more than a hundred publications, which were found in the pos-
session of libraries, societies, and individuals.

The Mo?iiteur,ToTs\e: XIII, page 192, published a report of the pro-
ceedings of the National Assembly, session of July 19, 1792, the day
after Paul Jones's death, which contained the following statement :

A letter was read from Colonel Blackden, a friend of Commodore Paul Jones,
which announced that his friend having died in Paris, application was made to

52 Papers and Reports

M. Simonneau, commissary of the section, to have him buried without charge in
accordance with a formality still existing in regard to Protestants. M. Simonneau
was indignant and replied that if the expenses were not provided he would pay them
himself. [Applause.]

The "formality" mentioned referred to a decree by which M. Simon-
neau, who was also "commissary of the King," was charged with the
burial of all foreign Protestants. The letter of Colonel Blackden was
published in the Boston Journal of that year, and is as follows :

Mr. President : I announce to you that Admiral Paul Jones died last evening in
Paris ; that the American minister has ordered the person at whose house the
Admiral lodged to cause him to be interred in the most private manner and at the
least possible expense ! ! ! This person, on account of the formalities still existing
relative to Protestants, found it necessary to apply to a commissary. He has done
it, and M. Simonneau, the commissary, expresses his astonishment at the order
given by the minister, and says that a man who has rendered such signal services to
France and America ought to have a public burial. He adds that if America will
not pay the expense he will pay it himself. The friends of the Admiral wait the
orders of the Assembly respecting the mode of interment.

S. Bl,ACKDEN,

Late Colonel in the Service of tlie United States.

In order to ascertain, if possible, whether M. Simonneau had actually
paid the funeral expenses out of his own means, or whether some other
provision had been made, I instituted a search in the various depart-
ments of the Government in the hope of finding some record of the action
taken. Fortunately a letter was finally found in the national archives
written by the then minister of justice, M. Dejolj'', dated July 22, 1792,
two days after the funeral, from which the following is an extract :

To THE NaTionai, Assembi<y : M. Simonneau has furnished the cost of the inter-
ment of Admiral Paul Jones, of which the bill amounts to 462 francs. This is an
homage which he has rendered to the remains of this celebrated man, and this act of
good citizenship is worthy of M. Simonneau, brother of the mayor of fltampes,
who died in executing the law.

This brought to light for the first time the mortifying fact that the
hero who had once been the idol of the American people had been buried
by charity, and that the payment of his funeral expenses was the timely
and generous act of a foreign admirer.

I made a search to see whether any needy lineal descendants of
M. Pierre Franjois Simonneau, the generous commissary, could be
found, with view to paying to them the amount, with interest, expended
by their worthy ancestor, as a tardy recognition of his noble act. Six
persons of that name were discovered and communicated with, but no
proof could be obtained that anyone of them was a descendant.

Our minister to France at that time, Gouverneur Morris, who was
on terms of close intimacy with Paul Jones and who superintended the
drawing up of the schedule of his property the afternoon before his

Jo h n Pate I Jo ne s C o vim e m o r at i o n 53

death, says in a letter dated April 19, 1793, published in his "Diary
and I^etters," \'olume II, page 46, and addressed to Robert Morris:

Before I quit Paul Jones I must tell you that some people here who like rare
shows wished him to have a pompous funeral, and I was applied to on the subject ;
but as I had no right to spend money on such follies, either the money of his heirs
or that of the United States, I desired that he might be buried in a private and
economical manner. I have since had reason to be glad that I did not agree to
waste money, of which he had no great abundance and for which his relatives
entertained a tender regard.

The impression as to the Admiral's having no great abundance of
means proved later to be erroneous. When his effects were sold, stocks
converted into cash, and arrears of pay collected, the sum procured
amounted to about $30,000, and much more was realized afterwards,
which went to his heirs. And yet there seemed to be no ready money
available at his death to provide for his funeral.

After finding the living successor to the notary who made the settle-
ment of the estate and who was in possession of all the original papers
in French, I had the detailed account examined, and ascertained that
M. Simonneau had not been reimbursed for the money he expended.
The inventory found among these papers and made after Paul Jones's
death enumerates among the articles left by him 7 uniforms, 1 2 decora-
tions, and 4 swords. It was natural to suppose that this large number
included all such articles as he possessed, and as in those days they
were regarded as valuable relics to be bequeathed to heirs, and as it was
not customary to clothe the dead but to bury them in winding sheets,
it seemed quite probable that no uniform, sword, or decoration would
be found in the Admiral's coffin. Buell said of Paul Jones (page 366,
Vol. II, first ed.): "He was buried in a shroud, without uniform or
trappings of any kind. ' ' In the settlement of the estate all the above-
named articles were sold except the sword presented to him by lyouis
XVI in recognition of his heroic achievement in capturing the Serapis.
This the Admiral disposed of orally just before his death, bequeathing
it to Richard Dale, his first lieutenant when he captured the Serapis^
saying : ' ' My good old Dick is better entitled to it than anyone else,
because he did more than any other to help me win it."

M. Simonneau, having taken so much interest in Paul Jones and
being in sole charge of the burial of foreign Protestants in Paris, would
have naturally interred him in the officially designated and most prom-
inent burial ground devoted to that purpose, if there were more than
one in existence. The Saint Louis Cemetery was well known and
officially designated, and as no mention could be found of any other in
Paris for foreign Protestants at the time, the natural inference was that
the burial had taken place there.

M. Hop, ambassador of Holland to France, had succeeded in securing
the cemetery granted by decree in 1720, which was opened in 1724 for

54 Papers and Reports

foreign Protestants, and in that cemetery, as well as in its successors,
all the burials of such persons could be made only upon certificates
issued by the Dutch embassy.

With a view to ascertaining some information from that source, a
search was made, at my request, of the records of the Dutch legation in
Paris and in the foreign oflSce at The Hague, but it was found that
while some useful information was obtained, no copies of such certifi-
cates had been preserved.

The person who delivered Paul Jones's funeral oration was M. Paul
Henri Marron, who had come from Holland and was pastor of a Prot-
estant house of worship in Paris called the ' ' Church of Saint L,ouis. ' '
The following is a copy of his rather florid address:

Legislators ! Citizens ! Soldiers ! Friends ! Brethren ! and Frenchmen ! We
have just returned to the earth the remains of an illustrious stranger, one of the
first champions of American liberty — of that liberty which so gloriously ushered in
our own. The Semiramis of the North had drawn him under her standard, but Paul
Jones could not long breathe the pestilential air of despotism ; he preferred the
sweets of a private life in France, now free, to the ^clat of titles and of honors which,
from an usurped throne, were lavished upon him bj' Catherine. The fame of the
brave outlives him, his portion is immortality. What more flattering homage could
we pay to the remains of Paul Jones than to swear on his tomb to live and die free?
It is the vow, it is the watchword of every Frenchman — let never tyrants nor their
satellites pollute this sacred earth! May the ashes of the great man, too soon lost to
humanity, and eager to be free, enjoy here an undisturbed repose! Let his example
teach posterity the efforts which noble souls are capable of making when stimulated
by hatred of oppression. Friends and brethren, a noble emulation brightens in your
looks ; your time is precious — the country is in danger! Who among us would not
shed the last drop of his blood to save it ? Associate yourselves with the glory of
Paul Jones, in imitating him in his contempt of danger, in his devotedness to his
country, in his noble patriotism, which, after having astonished the present age,
will continue to be the imperishable object of the veneration of future generations !

It is not a little singular that, notwithstanding the radical sentiments
expressed by this pastor, he was several times arrested by the revolu-
tionists and was once or twice in great peril of his life.

I found the book containing the minutes of the meetings of the con-
sistory of M. Marron's church, but just at the date of Paul Jones's death
four pages had been torn out. This was one of the many disappoint-
ments encountered during the researches. I then set to work upon
the task of trying to trace the lost leaves. The name of a M. Coquerel,
a former pastor of the church, was mentioned in a publication as
an enthusiastic collector of papers relating to Protestantism in Paris.
My search in junk shops and antiquarian stores revealed the fact that
M. Coquerel' s heirs had sold some old papers which had afterwards
been purchased by the Society of the History of Protestantism, and in
its library were finally found the four lost pages.

I now ascertained positively that M. Marron buried his parishioners
in the Saint L,ouis Cemetery, and the fact that he had delivered the

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John Paul Jones Commemoration 55

funeral oration of Paul Jones would be an indication that he had also
buried him there.

While all the proofs thus far distinctly designated this cemetery as
the Admiral's place of burial, still it was deemed prudent to investigate
the source of various rumors to the contrary, however improbable.
The elder Dumas in his romance of ' ' The Pioneer ' ' represents Paul
Jones as having been buried in Pere Lachaise. Notwithstanding the
fact that this celebrated cemetery had not been opened till thirteen years
after the Admiral was buried, yet to be sure that his body had not been
transferred there in later years, a thorough examination was made of
the registers in which the records of burials have been carefully kept.
The only male persons found upon the registers bearing the family name
of Jones were George Jones, but spelled "Jones" on the gravestone,
died in 1820; John Quereau Jones, in 1822; James Jones, in 1827; Charles
Jones, in 1829; Edouard Thomas Jones, in 1833. It was therefore cer-
tain that the Admiral's remains were not in Pere Lachaise.

There was another fanciful story that he had been interred in Picpus
Cemetery, where L,a Fayette was buried; but as Paul Jones, as recorded
in his certificate of burial, was of the Protestant faith, his interment in
any cemetery of the established church would have been prohibited.
Still, a search was made and it disproved the rumor.

A letter came to me from a person who had lived in Scotland when a
child, many years ago, saying Paul Jones had been buried in Kirkbean
churchyard, near Dumfries, Scotland : that his tomb was there with his
name inscribed on it, etc. I referred the letter to the rector of the church,
the Rev. D. W. MacKenzie, who replied that it was the tomb of Paul
Jones's father, saying :

The inscription on it is as follows : "In memory of John Paul, senior, who died
at Arbigland, the 24th of October, 1767, universally esteemed." At the bottom of
the tomb appears the inscription : "Erected by John Paul, junior." John Paul, of
course, is the original name of John Paul Jones, the Admiral. I take great interest
in the history of the Admiral, and local traditions or printed documents suggest
nothing at variance with the accepted opinion that he died in Paris and was buried
in the Protestant cemetery there.

After further researches in every possible quarter that could furnish
information on the subject, the fact was clearly and incontestably estab-
lished that the Saint Louis Cemetery was the only burial ground in Paris
for foreign Protestants at the time of Paul Jones's death ; that he was
not interred in any other cemetery ; and that Charles Read was perfectly
correct in his opinion that the Admiral had positively been buried in
the cemetery of Saint Louis. It should be remembered, also, that the
act of burial says, " The cemetery for foreign Protestants," language
indicating that there was only one in existence devoted to that purpose.

All doubt having been removed as to the place of burial, the next
step was to make a personal inspection of the ground beneath which

56 Papers and Reports

the long-since abandoned cemetery was located, and to endeavor to
ascertain its history and its condition at the time of Paul Jones's death.

It is situated in an uninviting section of the northeastern quarter of
Paris, at the corner of two streets now known as ' ' Rue Grange-aux-
Belles" and "Rue des Elcluses Saint Martin," and covered with build-
ings, principally of an inferior class. The property at the time of the
Admiral's burial belonged to the Government, and was sold to M. Phal-
ipeaux, a building contractor, in 1796. This quarter of the city was
known as "le Combat," and the present station of the underground
railroad, close to the propertj% is called " Combat." This name was not
chosen, however, on account of the burial there of the most combative
of men, but history attributes the term to the fact that this section of
Paris was long ago the scene of all the fights in which animals figured —
bulls, cocks, dogs, asses, etc.

A street which leads directly to the property and ends' there is
named Vicq d'Azyr, after Marie Antoinette's physician, a friend of
Paul Jones, who attended him and who accompanied Gouverneur Mor-
ris on his visit to the Admiral's house when he lay on his deathbed the
evening of July 18, 1792. When a person's name is given to a street
in Paris, it is generally in a quarter connected with events in his career.
It is possible that the distinguished physician's name was given to the
street because of its leading to the place which held the remains of his
illustrious friend and patient.

Two old maps of the property were finally discovered, one made bj^
M. Jaillot in 1773 and one by M. Verniquet in 1794, showing that the
ground consisted of a courtyard with a frontage of about 130 feet upon
Rue des Ecluses Saint Martin, with an entrance on that street, and
a depth of about 90 feet along Rue Grange-aux-Belles. There was a
garden in the rear with a frontage of 120 feet on Rue Grange-aux
Belles and a depth of 130 feet. The surface of the garden was about 8
feet lower than that of the courtyard, the descent to which was made
by a flight of steps. Thirty years later the grade of the street had been
changed and the garden had been leveled up even with the courtyard,
and the fact seemed to have been lost sight of that there had ever been
a cemetery beneath. There were two cross-walks dividing the garden
into four squares. The whole property was surrounded by a wall
between 6 and 9 feet high. There was a house in the courtyard and a
shed, but no buildings in the garden.

By a decree of the Government the garden was devoted exclusively
to the burial of foreign Protestants. On the 30th of September, 1777,
a decree was issued permitting native Protestants to be buried there-
after in the courtyard. This cemetery, as hereinbefore mentioned, was
legally closed in January, 1793, but the former custodian, who had
become the lessee, and the subsequent owners, who had purchased the

Stts do I'H^iCal- Scloids

7«« ^# ia ^fsnga 0teg

7

! ^e £a Qfange enx Se/^oi.

PLAN OF THE CEMETERY OF SAINT LOUIS IN 1792.

The obloug mark shows the position of the cofiBn
of Paul Jones relative to the cross walk.

PLAN OF THE BUILDINGS COVERING THE CEMETERY OF
SAINT LOUIS IN I905.

The space from A to B is the street front of the abandoned
cemetery.

I I Substratum of gypsum

CROSS SECTION OF THE CEMETERY ON THE LINES INDICATED IN THE MAP ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE BY

THE LETTERS U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
The short dark line at the left indicates the position of the coffin of John Paul Jones.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 57

property from the Government, were allowed to make some burials for
eleven 5-ears thereafter.

I found in the tenth arrondissement (then the fifth), a copy of a
letter written by the mayor, dated May 26, 1804, directing Citizen
Richer to inspect the Protestant cemetery. After a long search I dis-
covered in another quarter of the city his report, dated June 8 of that
year. It was in much detail and was entirely in accordance with the
maps heretofore mentioned in describing the Saint Louis Cemetery.
Its accuracy was verified in every particular when this cemetery was
afterwards explored.

The next question was whether the dead had ever been removed
from this abandoned cemeterj', as had been the case in some others.
Satisfactory proof was readily obtained that such an act had not taken
place before 1803 or after 1830. A search of the registers of the Cata-
combs, where all the dead that are removed from abandoned cemeteries
are deposited, showed no record of any bodies having been received
from the Saint Louis Cemetery between the above dates or at any other
time, and there could be found no information in any of the public
departments showing that any removal had ever been made from that
burial ground except of the remains of Lady Alexander Grant, whose
body had been exhumed for transportation to England by formal per-
mission of the city authorities, duly recorded May 2, 1803. There was
registered at the Catacombs the receipt of leaden coffins from other
abandoned cemeteries, and the removal there of a hand stretcher load
of human bones from No. 39 Rue Grange-aux-Belles, and another from
No. 4 Rue des E^cluses Saint Martin. These lots had once been used as
a kind of potter's field. They were near to, but entirely outside of,
the Saint Louis Cemetery.

Having established the impossibilitj' of the leaden coffin having been
removed by legitimate means, the only remaining doubt that could exist
was based upon the suggestion that it might have been unearthed by
the revolutionary armies to convert it into bullets. This unfounded
surmise did not make much of an impression after a study of all the cir-
cumstances and talks with the "oldest inhabitants," by whom traditions
of a former age are often handed down. The French have a pro-
found respect for the dead and the sacredness of places of burial; the
humblest citizen uncovers reverently when a funeral passes; graves are
tenderly cared for and kept decked with flowers, and their desecration
is a rare crime.

At the time of the Revolution there were statues and busts of lead in
exposed places and extensive lead piping to carry the water from the
Seine to Versailles, etc. , none of which was disturbed. Moreover, the
metal contained in the few leaden coffins to be found at that date in a
Paris cemetery would not have repaid the digging or furnished bullets
for a single battalion.

58 Papers and Reports

If the Admiral had been buried in a wooden cofiSn hardly a vestige
of it would have been in existence and only the mere skeleton of the
body would have been found. Fortunately, however, the authentic letter
written to Mrs. Janet Taylor, Paul Jones's eldest sister, by Colonel
Blackden, and hereinbefore quoted, contained the following valuable
information:

His body was put into a leaden coffin on the 2otli, that in case the United States,
which he had so essentially served and with so much honor, should claim his
remains they might be more easily removed.

The bill of 462 francs paid by M. Simonneau for the funeral expenses
was corroborative of this fact, inasmuch as the cost of an ordinary
funeral in those days, as ascertained from the records, was 128 francs,
while that of a hospital patient cost as little as 89 francs, distributed as
follows: Coffin 10 francs, choristers 10, sexton 15, commissary 48, his
clerk 6. The payment therefor of 462 francs, more than three times
the value of that sum at the present day , would have provided for an
unusually large expenditure, and would have amply covered the cost of
a substantial leaden coffin, a thorough preparation of the body to insure
its preservation, and an elaborate system of packing, with a view to its
transportation by sea.

There had now been fully established by authentic documents and
convincing corroborative evidence the fact that the Saint Louis Cemetery
was the actual burial place of Paul Jones; that he had been buried in a
leaden coffin; that the body had been prepared for transportation to the
United States; that the coffin had never been removed by legitimate
means, and that there was no probability that it had been carried away
by stealth or had been stolen.

After having studied the manner and place of his burial and contem-
plated the circumstances connected with the strange neglect of his grave,
one could not help feeling pained beyond expression and overcome by a
sense of profound mortification. Here was presented the spectacle of a
hero whose fame once covered two continents, and whose name is still
an inspiration to a world-famed navy, lying for more than a century in
a forgotten grave, like an obscure outcast, relegated to oblivion in a
squalid quarter of a distant foreign city, buried in ground once conse-
crated, but since desecrated by having been used at times as a garden,
with the moldering bodies of the dead fertilizing its market vegetables,
by having been covered later by a common dump pile, where dogs and
horses had been buried, and the soil was still soaked with polluted
waters from undrained laundries, and, as a culmination of degradation,
by having been occupied by a contractor for removing night soil.

It recalls the remark once made by a gallant naval officer: "When we
give up our lives in the service of our couutrj' we do not ask that our
graves be kept green, but should like to have them kept clean."

John Paul Jones Commemoration ^g

Having collected all the facts necessary to justif}' an immediate
attempt to remove the remains from such offensive surroundings, and
secure for them appropriate sepulture in America, I was about to open
negotiations quietly with the proprietors and tenants who occupied the
property with a view to purchasing the right to enter upon the premises
and make the necessary excavations in order to explore thoroughly the
cemetery, when unfortunately the news of this intention became pub-
licly known through the indiscretion of persons who had been consulted
on the subject. Self -constituted agents immediately began to busy
themselves with circulating fantastic stories regarding the fabulous
prices that were to be paid for the property, the whole of which it was
said was going to be bought by a rich government, at any cost, as the
only means of getting access to the cemetery and making the excava-
tions necessary to find the body of its great admiral. Such representa-
tions naturally created intense excitement, raised false hopes in the
minds of those interested in the propertj-, and rendered negotiations on
a practicable basis entirel}' impossible. This was altogether the most
discouraging episode in the history of the undertaking.

There was then but one course to pursue, however reluctantly, which
was to drop the matter entirely for a couple of years, in order to let the
excitement subside.

At the end of that time negotiations were quietly opened upon the
basis of purchasing the right to explore the abandoned cemetery by
means of subterranean galleries, provided that all damages to houses
should be repaired, any victims of disease caused by foul emanations
from the disturbed soil indemnified , and the property afterwards restored
to its former condition. After a series of prolonged and tedious nego-
tiations, appeals to the public spirit of the occupants of the property,
and an assurance that the United States Government had made no
appropriation or taken any action in the matter, and that the work was
simply an individual undertaking, I at last succeeded in procuring
options in writing from all concerned granting the right for three
months to enter upon the premises and make the necessary excavations.

President Roosevelt, upon learning of the undertaking, had asked for
information regarding it, and upon receiving my reply, giving an
account of the project, sent an urgent message to Congress in February,
1905, recommending an appropriation of $35,000, the estimated cost of
carrying out the work. It was late in the short session, and no action
was taken. It would not have been altogether unnatural, however, to
regard the scheme as too Utopian in its nature to receive serious con-
sideration, the remains of the Admiral having been long since relegated
to the realms of mystery and given up as lost beyond recovery.

As no promise could be secured as to how long the options obtained
would be allowed to hold good, and as it was quite certain that if they

6o Papers and Reports

lapsed they could never be renewed upon any such terms, if at all, on
account of changes among the tenants, the adverse disposition of some of
the occupants, the publicity which had now been given the matter, etc.,
I deemed it a duty to pay at once the sums demanded in advance to bind
the options, and to proceed with the work.

The prefect of the Seine kindly permitted M. Paul Weiss of the serv-
ice of the carrieres (quarries) of the city of Paris to direct the work,
which was begun on Friday, February 3, 1905. This experienced and
accomplished mining engineer displayed a professional skill of the very
highest order, and by his ability, zeal, and devotion to the work greatly
facilitated the task. The project presented serious difficulties from the
fact that the filling of earth above the cemetery was composed of the
dumpings of loose soil not compact enough to stand alone, and the shafts
and galleries had to be solidly lined and shored up with heavy timbers as
the excavations proceeded. The drainage was bad in places and there
was trouble from the water. The walls of one of the buildings were
considerably damaged. Slime, mud, and mephitic odors were encoun-
tered, and long red worms appeared in abundance.

The first shaft was opened in one of the yards to a depth of 18 feet.
It proved clearly that the dead had never been disturbed. This fact
was most satisfactory as disproving the predictions so often made to the
contrary. The skeletons were found lying about a foot apart, generally
in two layers, one above the other, and in some places there were three.
This was a verification of the report of Citizen Richer, hereinbefore
mentioned, saying that the dead were buried in a fosse (trench), which
indicated that they were not interred in separate graves and were of a
poor class. This led to the conclusion that there would' be very few
leaden coffins found, as they could be afforded only by persons in easy
circumstances. But few vestiges were left of the wooden coffins.

Two more large shafts were sunk in the yards and two in the Rue
Grange-aux-Belles, making five in all. Day and night gangs of work-
men were employed, and active progress was made. Galleries were
pushed in every direction and ' ' soundings ' ' were made between them
with long iron tools adapted to this purpose, so that no leaden cofiin
could possibly be missed.

The first of the four squares explored was the one on the right of the
original entrance to the cemetery. Here the excavators encountered a
mass of skeletons, in three layers, superposed. They were placed irreg-
ularly, some lying face down and others on their sides, in one la^-er piled
lengthwise and in the one above crosswise, just as one would pile cord
wood, the bodies being so close together that they could not have been
buried in coffins. No explanation of the peculiar condition of things in
this portion of the cemetery suggested itself until one day I came across
a copy of a drawing by Bericourt representing the corpses of the Swiss

fohn Paul Jones Commemoration 6i

Guard killed in defending the Tuileries being hurriedly thrown into
carts to be hauled away for burial. As it is known that most of them
were Protestants, it is altogether likely that they were interred in the
Saint Louis Cemetery in the confused manner indicated by the position
of the skeletons found there. This slaughter occurred August lo, 1792,
twenty-one days after Paul Jones's burial. If the above inference be
correct, it furnishes another proof that although the cemetery was closed
soon after his death there was plenty of room left for his coffin at the
time of his burial, for the reason that so many bodies were interred
there afterwards.

I had given orders that if not present when a leaden coffin was dis-
covered I should be sent for at once, as I was desirous of superintending
personally the search for an inscription plate and any other indications
that might aid in the identification.

On February 22 the first leaden coffin was discovered. The round
projecting end containing the head had been broken off and the skull
was detached from the body. The remains of a water barrel were found
near by. As the cemetery, after being closed, had been used as a market
garden, the barrel had evidently been sunk in this spot to catch the
water drained from the courtyard, and in excavating for it the head of
the coffin had been knocked off. The outer wooden coffin had nearly
disappeared, and the inscription plate it bore had fallen on the lid of the
leaden coffin. This plate was of copper, and had become so brittle that
when lifted it broke and a portion of it crumbled to pieces. It was so
corroded and incrusted that no portion of the inscription could be read.
Handling it with great care, I proceeded with it in person to Messrs.
Andre & Son, the well-known decipherers and restorers of ancient
enamels and art objects, who promised to apply all their skill to the task
of reading it.

By the next day the Messrs. Andre had cleansed the coffin plate
sufficiently to be able to read distinctly the following portion of the
inscription :

"* * * ME Anglois, 20 de May 1790 Ans. " The French word
Mai was spelled in old style with a j'. No further attention was there-
fore paid to this coffin, and the search, which had not been interrupted,
continued.

On March 23 a second leaden coffin was discovered, with a plate
easily read, bearing the words "Richard Hay, esq., died in Paris the
29th January, 1785."

On March 31 a third leaden coffin was unearthed. This, like the
others, was of a shape resembling that of the mummy coffins, a form
quite common then, gradually widening from the feet to the shoulders,
with a round projection at the upper end, which contained the head.
It was much superior in solidity and workmanship to the others. A

SuiAOiuaj ni pn-e 'pAoqs siq pai^ddB pBq '3DnB;sqns pjuq b ^[Dnjjs pi3q 5[DTd
suj ;bi{J Suipuy 'aABjS aaddn sii; jo jaSSip aq; ;Bq; sq Abiu u -pooM.
JO ngjOD B JO saSpsaA aiuos 3a3A\ nigoo napBaj aqi Saipnnojjng ■5[3xd
B Aq ji SB paojajd uaaq pBq ipujA\ jo pq aq; jo aippua aqi 'nigoD napBaj
aqi JO do4 no XpiBiparaiui paunq iiaaq pBq asdjOD y ■3;B|d nopduosiu
UB JO aonasqB aq; aoj jnnooDB o} saApsniaqj pajsaSSns sauoaq; oavj^

•qDJBas
2uoi aq; jo joaCqo aq; — pBap snouisn^i aq; jo aanasaad aq; ui SuipuB;s
ajaM Aaq; ;Bq; Suqaaj 's;Bq .ixaq; paAoraai nqjoa aq; ;noqB p3jaq;BS
ajaAV oqAV asoqj we pnB ,,isauof piBj,, 'pararepxa XpAponpsni aA\
— aanBjqniasaj jo s;niod jaq;o pnB 's;Tqj;o aAa paqojB jCj;naniino-id 'sauoq
5[aaqD qSiq 'JiBq aq; jo aonBJBaddB 'Mojq jo jnojnoa 'pBaqajoj pBOjq
aq; — soi;sua;DBJBqa jBipoad aq; SuizinSooaj pnB sajn;Baj jaq;o aq;
SupBdraoo 'aoBj aq; jiBaii iBpaui b SnpB^d uodj^ 'nigoo aq; jo pT{ aq; o;
Ajiraixojd asop oo; s;i Aq painSgsip puB 'uMop passajd 'apis ;qSu aq;
pjBMo; jaAo ;uaq naaq pBq ason aq; jo no;;jod snoniSBjpjBO aq; ;Bq;
;da3xa 'aouBjBaddB ^BJn;Ba b a;mb pa;nasajd aoBj aqj^ •;sioiu aaaA\ uanq
aq; pnB Xpoq aq; jo aoBjjns aqj, uopo db; jo uMOjq qsi/CBj3 b jo pnB
'na^iaiuqs XpqSqs XaaA ';DB;nt SniniBoiaj: qsag aq; \[e 'paAjasaad ^aAV
X^snopAjBni SBM. Apoq aq; 'asudans asna;ni xxio oj^ 'aoBj aq; Snreodxa
';saqa pnB pBaq aq; uiojj paAomaj sbm ;aaqs SnipniM aq; pnB 'ntjjoa
aq; jo pBaq aq; jBan paaB'[d ajaM sa^pnBD nazop b j^bjj •;! raojj ijonajs
sajdoD JO jaqninn b pBq pBq pnB apBui sbav ^Bpani siq; qoiqM niojj aip
aq; ;nTni sijB(J aq; nt pnnoj pBq j 'aigojd ni ;snq siq SniMoqs ppani
^BnoissajSnoQ s jBjirapy aq; jo saidoo q;TAi ajojaq ami; auios paqsrninj
naaq peq 3[J0a\ aq; nodn paSB3na asoqj^ 'sanof \nv^ jo ;q3pq aq;
pa;B3ipni ;naraajnsBaui qSnoj y •mbj;s pnB XBq q;iM. paifOBd Xjiuji;
pnB ;aaqs SnipniM b q;iAV pajaAOD SBAi Xpoq aqj^ -Mois X^Snipaaaxa
naaq ssapqnop pBq noi;B-iodBAa jo ssaaojd aq; ;Bq; os 'pqoo^B SnidBosa
aq; jo notjoB aq; Aq pa;Bjnpni amoaaq XpnapiAa SnTABq '3[DB|q pnB pjBq
SBM sapq asaq; pajaAOO qoiqAi q;aBa aq; 'jaAaMojj 'Xbmb pa;;oj pBq
nigoo napooA\ aq; ja;jB qjjBa aq; jo ainssajd aq; Aq pasnBO ;ooj aq; jBan
nigoo aq; jo aSpa aq; ni 5[dbjo b pnB 'paqposap ja;jBnpj:aq sb '^loid b Aq
pq aq; nx apBtn apq b qSnojq; ssapqnop 'pa;BJodBAa ;jBd ;BaaS ni pBq
paAjasajd naaq ApnapiAa pBq Apoq aq; qoxqM ni pqoop aq; ;nq 'jopo
Dx^oqoD^B Snoj;s b sbav ajaqj^ •A;i;n3igxp a^qBjapxsnoo q;iAV paAoraaa
SBM ;x ;Bq; pajapps A^nug os sbav px^ aqj^ -jpsAxn pnB 'naxuJiJOAV
{BjaAas 'uBinajoj aq; '3[joav aq; jo ;ixapna;nuadns ';anxnaQ 'j^ 'ssp^yv
"H 'pjBqonB^g qoQ jo aonasajd nx pauado sbm nxgoa aq; I lud-Y nQ

uxB JO ;najjnD
B ;xinpB o; sb os 'Xja^BS jaq;onB q;xAv apBxn aq ppoo uox;oanuoo b ii;xxn
panod;sod sbm nox;BnxinBxa aq; 'Ai3\\BS pa;B][i;naAnn aq; ixx a[qB;jod
-dnsnx ;som^B ajaM sjopo aq; sb ;nq iuxgoa siq; nado o; pappap sbm ;j
■pnnoj aq p^noa ajB^d nopduasnx on ;nq 'apBxn sbm qajBas qSnojoq;

s } J. o 43 '^ puv s u y if V J zq

John Paul Jo 71 es C o vi m e in o r a t i o n 63

the decayed remains of the wooden coffin found a plate and carried it
off as a relic, or, if of silver, for its intrinsic value. Or, as the death
of Paul Jones occurred when the violence of the French Revolution was
at its height and the streets were filled with idlers and excited crowds of
workmen, it is likely that no engravers could be found at work to pre-
pare a fitting inscription in the two da>'s intervening between the death
and burial. The latter theory seems rather more plausible.

For the purpose of submitting the body to a thorough scientific exam-
ination by competent experts for the purpose of complete identification,
it was taken quietly at night, on April 8, to the Paris School of Medi-
cine (Ecole de Medecine) and placed in the hands of the well-known
professors of anthropology. Doctor Capitan and Doctor Papillault and
their associates, who had been highly recomm.ended as the most accom-
plished scientists and most experienced experts that could be selected
for a service of this kind. I of course knew these eminent professors
by reputation, but I had never met them.

While the professional examinations for identifying the body were
taking place, directions were given to let the workmen continue the
excavations in order to explore the rest of the cemetery, as there was a
small portion that had not yet been reached. On April 11 a fourth
leaden coffin was found with a plate bearing the inscription : ' ' Cygit
Georges Maidison, Gentilhomme Anglais et Secretaire de I'Ambassade
de Sa Majeste britannique aupr^s de Sa Majeste tres Chretienne —
decede a Paris le 27 Aout 1783 — age de 36 ans."

On April 18 the fifth and last leaden coffin was discovered. It was
without an inscription plate and of unusual length. Upon opening it
there was found the skeleton of a man considerably over 6 feet in
height.

In excavating the cemetery the exploration had corroborated the
facts inferred from the hereinbefore-mentioned report indicating that the
main body of the four squares divided by the cross walks had been
reserved for burying the ordinary dead in common trenches, and that
personages important enough to be placed in leaden coffins were buried
in separate graves near the walls. The Admiral's coffin was found in
one of such spots.

All the coffins except the one containing the remains of the Admiral
were left undisturbed in the places where they had been discovered, and,
the cemetery having been fully explored, the shafts and galleries were
refilled and the property restored. There had been excavated 80 feet in
length of shafts, 800 feet of galleries, and about 600 feet of soundings.
The excavated earth had to be carted to a distance of 2 miles to find a
dumping ground and afterwards hauled back. In refilling the galleries
it was necessary in places to use stones and blocks of indurated clay to
give proper stability.

64 Papers and Reports

There were discovered in all five leaden coffins in the cemetery.
Four having been easily identified, reasoning upon the principle of elim-
ination led to the conclusion that the other must be the coffin sought.
However, the scientists were identifying the body by more positive
means.

When the remains arrived at the School of Medicine the lid of the
coffin, which had been replaced and the edges of which had been sealed
with a coating of plaster, was again removed and the hay and straw
surrounding the body were taken out. They were so firmly packed,
evidently to prevent injury to the body from shocks caused by the roll-
ing of the ship upon the contemplated transfer by sea, that in removing
them pincers had to be used. It was noticed that there had been a hole
three-quarters of an inch in diameter in the lid of the coffin just over
the face, and that it had been closed by a screw and soldered over. It
is supposed that the alcohol used to preserve the remains had been
poured in through this aperture after the coffin had been closed. This
immersion in alcohol was doubtless another reason why no uniform or
object of value was placed in the coffin.

In order not to disturb the body or change in any way its position in
removing it from the coffin a vertical cut was made in the lead at each
end, which enabled the sides to be pressed apart. The body was then
carefully placed upon a large dissecting table. Its state of preservation
was such that it bore its own weight in handling it. The remains, with
all the flesh intact, looked like the anatomical specimens preserved in
jars of alcohol such as one sees in medical museums. It was learned
that a century ago this method of preserving the dead was frequently
employed — that the bodies of Necker and his wife, buried at Coppet,
in Switzerland, for instance, were so treated and are still perfectly
preserved.

The joints were somewhat flexible. In taking the right hand in mine
I found that the knuckle joints could be easily bent.

The following is a list of the principal persons who participated in
verifying the identification of the body: The American ambassador;
Henry Vignaud, first secretary of the American embassy, commander
of the Legion of Honor, and a distinguished writer; John K. Gowdy,
American consul-general; Col. A. Bailly-Blanchard, second secretary of
the American embassy, ex-aid-de-camp to the governor of Louisiana,
officer of the Legion of Honor, officer of public instruction; M. Justin
de Selves, prefect of the Seine, grand officer of the Legion of Honor;
M. Louis Lepine, prefect of police, ex-govenior-general of Algiers,
grand officer of the Legion of Honor; Dr. J. Capitan, professor in the
School of Anthropology, member of the committee of historic and scien-
tific works (ministry of public instruction), member of the municipal
commission of Old Paris, member of the Society of Megalithic Monu-

John Paul Jones Commemoration 65

ments, member of a number of foreign scientific societies, ex-president
of the Society of Anthropology of Paris ofBcer of public instruction,
author of more than 250 monographs, memoirs, etc., on medical and
other scientific subjects; Dr. Georges Papillault, assistant director of the
laboratory of anthropology in the School for Advanced Studies, pro-
fessor in the School of Anthropology, officer or member of several
learned societies at home and abroad, and author of numerous scientific
articles, a scientist of rare experience in the examination and identifica-
tion of human bodies; Dr. George Herv6, professor in the School of
Anthropology, ex-president of the Societ}- of Anthropology of Paris,
and author of man}' monographs and volumes on this subject; Dr. A.
Javal, physician to the ministry of public instruction, laureate of the
School of Medicine; M. J. Pray, chief architect of. the prefecture of
police, officer of public instruction; M. Paul W'eiss, engineer of the
quarries of the Seine, doctor of laws.

In addition to the above, the sendees were secured of Dr. V. Cornil,
the eminent microscopist, professor of pathologic anatom}- of the Paris
School of Medicine.

The above scientists were not emplo}'ed experts ; they cheerfully gave
their services gratuitousl)-, purely in the interest of science and as an
act of comitj' between two friendly nations in solving an important
historical problem.

There now took place one of the most scientific, painstaking, and con-
scientious examinations conceivable for the purpose of verifying beyond
all doubt the identification of the body submitted for this purpose.

The official and professional responsibility of those engaged in the
task, their disinterestedness, and the fact that their established reputa-
tions were at stake gave abundant guarantee that the labor would be
faithfully and impartially performed. Twelve American or French per-
sons officially took part in or witnessed the work of identification, and
their affirmative verdict, after six days passed in the application of every
possible test, was positive and unanimous and was formally certified to
under the official seals of their respecti^-e departments, as will be seen
from their reports printed in the appendix.

The remains had been wrapped in a winding sheet of linen, the ends
of which had been torn off, probably to make it fit the length of the
body. On this was observed a small figure 2 worked in thread. Upon
the removal of the sheet there was found upon the body but one gar-
ment, a linen shirt of very fine workmanship with plaits and ruffies,
which corresponds with the Admiral's fondness for dress. "He is a
master of the arts of dress and personal adornment, and it is a common
remark * * * that he never fails to be the best dressed man at any
dinner or fete he may honor by attending. " (' ' Anecdotes of the Court
of I^ouis XVI.") The long hair, measuring about thirty inches in
7257—07 5

66 Papers and Reports

length, had been carefully dressed and gathered into a linen cap at the
back of the head. On this was found a small initial worked in thread.
When the cap was right side up, the letter was a "J," with the loop
well rounded; when reversed, it formed a "P." A careful search dis-
closed no other article in the coffin. On the hands, feet, and legs were
found portions of tin foil, as if they had been wrapped with it.

Two circumstances combined to render the identification of the re-
mains comparativel)^ easy — the remarkable state of preservation of the
body due to the alcohol and the abundance of accurate information in
existence descriptive of the dead.

To furnish the anthropologists with the required data there was
obtained, upon personal application, permission to make all the desired
measurements of the Houdon bust of Paul Jones, a little more than
three-quarter size, owned by the Marquis de Biron, a very artistic work
representing the Admiral in court dress with the hair curled in rolls
upon the temples. These rolls were identical with those found on the
body.

There was procured, through the courtesy of the director of the Tro-
cadero Museum, a copy of the other well-known bust of Paul Jones by
Houdon, one of the most accurate works of the famous sculptor, who
was also an admirer of his subject. It represents him in the uniform of
an admiral, and was found more useful for the purpose of making the
comparative measurements on account of its being life-size. James
Madison, in a letter dated April 28, 1825, says: "His bust by Houdon
is an exact likeness, portraying well the characteristic features. ' ' Sher-
burne, in his biography, says : ' ' His bust by Houdon, of which several
copies remain in this country, is believed to be the best representation
of his features ever made."" Besides these there were submitted a
copy of the medal given by Congress — showing a profile of the face —
and a mass of authentic information regarding the Admiral's chief
characteristics, appearance, size, color of hair, age, etc.

Doctor Papillault, with his delicate instruments, made all the neces-
sary anthropometric measurements of the head, features, length of body,
etc., and found them so entirely exact as to be convinced that the busts
were made from the subject before him, and that the length of the body,
5 feet 7 inches, was the same as the height of the Admiral. All of the
comparative measurements are set forth in detail in his report, the

«Mr. Frank D. Millet made several casts from the Houdon bust of John Paul
Jones in the National Academy of Design, in New York City, and sent a plaster cast
to the Trocadiiro Museum, in Paris, where it was used by the Anthropologists in
comparing its measurements with those of Paul Jones's recovered body. A rumor
gained circulation in Paris that the New York bust was a copy of the replica in
Philadelphia and the bust in the Trocad(^ro Museum was often spoken of as the
"Philadelphia bust," which accounts for its having been thus erroneously desig-
nated in some of the reports. — H. P.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 67

greatest difference between any of them being only 2 millimeters, about
seven-hundredths of an inch.

As said before, the cartilaginous portion of the nose had been bent
over to the right side, pressed down, and distorted. This disfigurement
was clearly due to the fact that when the body was put in the cof&n an
excess of the hay and straw packing had been placed under the head
and across the face, and the mass of hair had been gathered into the
linen cap at the back. This raised the face so high that the nose was
pressed upon by the coffin lid. This pressure had been so great that
the head itself was found turned a little to the right.

Professor Papillault says on this subject: "The bridge of the nose is
rather thin, the root somewhat narrow. Seen in profile, the nose is of
an undulating form on the bust ; now this form depends a great deal on
the cartilage. The bony part of the nose is quite compatible with it."
The professional anthropologists pay little attention to the cartilages, as
these are liable to change, and confine their measurements to the solid
or bony structures.

Professor Capitan, after the examinations, had a photograph made of
the head, but at the angle at which it was taken the disfigured nose is
made to look as if it were Roman in shape, the end being bent over and
depressed, and in consequence giving the bridge an unnatural prominence.

The expression of the face is not nearly so good as if the photograph
had been taken immediately after opening the coffin. The skin had
shrunk and the lips had contracted b}- exposure to the air and show the
edges of the teeth, which were not visible at first. This gives the face
a rather ghastly appearance. The hair, which was found neatly dressed,
is in disorder and could not be rearranged, as an attempt to comb it
revealed a danger of pulling it out. The photograph is herein repro-
duced, and is interesting for the reason that it shows the well-preser\'ed
condition of the flesh. The nose presented the only disfigurement.
When the bust was placed beside the bodj' the resemblance of the other
features was remarkably striking. Professor Her\-e called attention to
a peculiar shape of the lobe of the ear, which he said was, according to
his experience, something very rarely seen. Its exact copy was observed
upon the bust.

The hair was dark brown, slightly streaked with gray and thin above
the temples, agreeing fully with the historical descriptions. The teeth
were long and somewhat worn. The appearance of both hair and teeth
was compatible with the Admiral's age at the time of his death — 45
years.

Doctor Papillault, in his report setting forth the details of his inves-
tigations, remarks:

The dimensions of the bust, life-size, by Houdon, are exactly those of the body;
the comparison is therefore easier than if the bust had been of a reduced size. Thus
all the measurements offer an approximation truly extraordinary. Two experienced

68 Papers and Reports

anthropologists measuring the same subject would often make as great differences.
Thus I could not hope to find between a bust and its model a similar identity. I
recollect having measured, some years ago, a cast of the head of Blanqui, and the
statue which Dalou made from that same cast. Dalou was a very precise and con-
scientious artist, using and even abusing, as his colleagues said, the caliper compass.
I found differences greater than in this case.

He concludes his report in the following words:

Without forgetting that doubt is the first quality of all investigators and that the
most extreme circumspection should be observed in such matters, I am obliged to
conclude that all the observations which I have been able to make plead in favor of
the following opinion : The body examined is that of Admiral John Paul Jones.

Then came one of the most interesting features of the verification —
the autopsy, doubtless the only one in history ever made upon a body
that had been buried for a hundred and thirteen years. In order not
to alter in any way the appearance of the corpse. Doctor Capitan and
his assistants laid the body upon its face and made the opening in the
back to explore the thorax and the viscera contained therein. A quan-
tity of alcohol ran out, the internal organs being thoroughly saturated
with it. This accounted for their excellent state of preservation. The
left lung showed a spot which was clearly the result of an attack of
pneumonia or broncho-pneumonia. It had healed, but remained sur-
rounded by fibrous tissue. Mr. Buell, in his "Paul Jones" (Vol. II,
p. 235), says: "During this inspection [of the Russian fleet] , which
consumed about fifteen days, the Admiral contracted a heavy cold,
which almost the very day of his return to St. Petersburg developed
into pneumonia. * * * Both the eminent physicians who attended
him pronounced his lungs permanently affected and told him he could
never hope to endure again the rigors of a Russian winter. ' ' This was
in June, 1789. In May, 1790, two years before the Admiral's death,
he returned to Paris. The same author says of him (Vol. II, p. 267),
' ' The doctors declared that his left lung was more or less permanently
affected."

Doctor Capitan and Professor Cornil found nothing particularly char-
acteristic in the heart, which was still quite flexible- It was contracted,
and the cardiac walls exhibited muscular fibers striated lengthwise and
crosswise. An abundance of small crystals and bacteria was noticed.
The liver was of a yellowish-brown color, somewhat contracted, and its
tissues were rather dense and compact. There were found in the hepatic
cells numerous varieties of crystals and microbes. The masses of tyro-
sin, appearing to the naked eye like white opaque granules, were less
numerous than in the lungs. The cells of this organ were not so well
preserved, and according to Doctor Capitan a positive opinion could not
be given as to symptoms caused by its condition. The gall bladder was
healthy and contained a pale yellowish-brown bile of a pasty consistency.
The stomach was contracted and very small. The spleen appeared

John Paul Jones Commemoration 69

comparatively larger than it ought to have been, considering the marked
contraction of all the viscera. Its tissues appeared rather firm ; it
showed no anatomic lesions. The kidneys were well preserved in form
and presented very clearly under the microscope the evidences of inter-
stitial nephritis, commonly called "Bright's disease." Doctor Capitan,
in speaking of these organs, in his report says :

The vessels at several points had their walls thickened and invaded by sclerosis.
A number of glomeruli were completely transformed into fibrous tissue and appeared
in the form of small spheres, strongly colored by the microscopic reactions. This
verification was of the highest importance. It gave the key to the various patholog-
ical symptoms presented by Paul Jones at the close of his life — emaciation, consump-
tive condition, and especially so much swelling, which from the feet gained com-
pletely the nether limbs, then the abdomen, where it even produced ascites (exsudat
intra abdominal). All these affections are often observed at the close of chronic
interstitial nephritis. It can therefore be said that we possess microscopic proof that
Paul Jones died of a chronic renal affection, of which he had shown symptoms
toward the close of his life. In a word, like my colleague, Papillault, and by differ-
ent means, relying solely upon the appearance of the subject, on the comparison of
his head with the Houdon bust, and besides considering that the observations made
upon his viscera agree absolutely with his clinical history, I reach this very clear and
well-grounded conclusion, namely, that the corpse of which we have made a study
is that of Paul Jones.

I will even add, always with Papillault, that, being given this convergence of
exceedingly numerous, very diversified, and always agreeing facts, it would be nec-
essary to have a concurrence of circumstances absolutely exceptional and improbable
in order that the corpse here concerned be not that of Paul Jones.

Professor Cornil concludes the report of his microscopic examinations
as follows : ' ' We believe that the case in point is interstitial nephritis
with fibrous degeneracy of the glomeruli of Malpighi, which quite
agrees with the symptoms observed during life. ' '

To show how perfectly the revelations of the autopsy agree with the
symptoms of the malady which terminated the life of Paul Jones, in
addition to the affection of the left lung described by his historians and
hereinbefore mentioned, I give the following citations from authentic
documents: Buell, in his "Paul Jones" (Vol. II, page 308), after men-
tioning that a week before his death it was proposed that he should be
called to the bar of the French National Assembly to answer such ques-
tions as might be asked of him concerning the needs of the navy and to
give his own ideas as to how those needs might best be met, says : " He
asked to be excused on the ground that his articulation was not strong
and he feared that an effort to make himself heard throughout the vast
chamber would so strain his vocal organs as to bring on a fit of convul-
sive coughing." That night Paul Jones attended a supper at the Cafe
Timon. Capelle, a French writer, describes the affair and gives the
Admiral's speech, in which he said in conclusion : " My friends, I would
love to pursue this theme, but, as j'ou see, my voice is failing and my
lower limbs become swollen when I stand up too long. ' '

70 Papers and Reports

Benoit-Andr6, who published a memoir of Paul Jones six years after
his death, says: " The day after the Admiral had been at supper at the
Cafe Timon he did not rise until nearly noon. His lower limbs began
to swell prodigiously, his stomach soon began to expand, and he had
much difficulty at times in breathing; all the time afflicted with an
exhausting cough and much raising of mucus."

Colonel Blackden's letter to Mrs. Janet Taylor, describing the drop-
sical condition of the patient, has already been quoted.

The official certificate of burial says he died of dropsy of the chest
( ' ' hydropisie de poitrine " ) .

The complete verification of all these symptoms by means of an
autopsy made upon a corpse a hundred and thirteen years after death
must be regarded as a notable triumph of anthropologic science, of deep
interest to the medical profession, and a service of signal importance in
the present instance.

No mark of a wound was discovered on the body. Paul Jones was
never wounded. History is in abundant possession of the most detailed
records of every fight in which he was engaged, and the}' make nowhere
a single mention of his ever having received a wound. Buell finds no
record of a wound. Sherburne, in his well-known "L,ife and Character
of Paul Jones," page 362, says: "Commodore John Paul Jones on the
ocean during the American Revolution was as General Washington on
the land — never known to be defeated in battle, and neither ever receiv-
ing a wound." Sherburne's first edition was published while Richard
Dale and other officers who had served with Paul Jones were still living
and they never challenged this statement. Sands, in his "l,ife and
Correspondence of Paul Jones," a work which presents a strange inter-
mingling of official facts and uncorroborated assertions, says that it was
known, as he was assured, that the Admiral was once wounded in the
head, but admits further on that "he never chronicled his wounds in
any letter or journal." The same writer asserts that the Admiral, four
months before his death in 1792, wrote a draft of a letter, but which was
never sent, addressed to the French minister of marine, complaining
that his predecessor in that office, M. de Sartine, gave him (Jones) and
our minister, who accompanied him, an icy reception, saying: "He did
not say to me a single word, nor ask me if mj' health had not suffered
from my wounds and the uncommon fatigue I had undergone. ' ' Even
if the Admiral had ever made such a draft it would doubtless have been
written, according to his custom, in French, and in the original might
very well have meant simply that the minister did not take the trouble
to ask him whether his health had suffered from wounds and fatigues,
occurrences which might naturally be supposed to have happened to so
combative a sailor; but as M. de Sartine had left the ministry of marine
December i, 1780, more than eleven years before, the statement does
not carry any weight.

72 Papers and Reports

second secretary; Mr. Gowdy, consul-general; and M. Weiss, engineer
in charge of the excavations.

The coffin, covered with the American flag, was placed in the receiv-
ing vault; the rector of the church, the Rev. Doctor Morgan, oilered
a prayer, and the remains were left there to await the completion of
arrangements for their transfer to the United States.

For several years a search had been pressed to find the house in
which the Admiral died. No. 42 Rue de Tournon. There had been
renumberings of the dwellings throughout the arrondissement, and it
seemed impossible to trace them with sufficient accuracy to locate the
house in which Paul Jones, as history states, occupied an "apartment
on the first floor above the entresol." This furnished another instance
of the mystery which pursued his memory. It was not until the first
week in July, 1905, that the place was found, thanks to the untiring
and important assistance rendered by M. Taxil, chief surveyor of the
city of Paris. The house is now No. 19 of that street. It is the only
one in the immediate localty which has a first floor over an entresol.

The style of the ironwork on the balcony indicates an architecture of
the period of the close of the reign of lyouis XV or the beginning of that
of lyouis XVI. The street leads toward the entrance to the Senate,
palace of the l^uxembourg. It was once a fashionable street, and at the
present time several persons of distinction live there. On the ground
floor of the house a sign bears the words ' ' L,essons in fencing, boxing,
and the use of the singlestick. ' ' This proffered instruction in the sev-
eral arts of fighting in the house in which Paul Jones resided, coupled
with the fact that the underground station close to the cemetery where
his body reposed is called "Combat," looks as if fate had determined
that he should everywhere be identified with signs of conflict and strug-
gle, whether in life or in death.

I visited this house for the first time, accompanied by Colonel Blan-
chard, July 4, 1905. Col. A. Bailly-Blanchard was my second secretary
at the embassy, and it gives me peculiar pleasure to make conspicuous
mention of his services. I assigned him to duty as my principal assist-
ant, and he was constantly associated with me throughout the entire
period of the researches. His rare accomplishments eminently fitted
him for the service, and the ability and zeal displayed Vjy him entitled
him to the most grateful consideration.

Upon the receipt and examination of my detailed reports, the Govern-
ment recognized the completeness of the identification of the Admiral's
body, and President Roosevelt ordered a squadron of war vessels, com-
posed of the Brooklyti, Tacoma, Chattanooga, and Galveston, commanded
by Admiral Sigsbee, to proceed to Cherbourg and convey the remains
of Paul Jones to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, where they are to
receive permanent interment in the crypt of the new chapel now under
construction.

HOUSE IN PARIS IN WHICH JOHN PAUL JONES DIED.

The Admiral died in his apartment, the third floor front of the biuldiiig at the
left, No. 42 (now No. i'^;, Rue de Tournon.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 73

In the meantime I had consuhed with the President of France, the
minister of foreign affairs, president of the council, general of the army,
admiral of the navy, and others, as to what part the French desired to
take in the ceremonies attending the transfer of the remains. They all
manifested an enthusiastic wish to pay every possible honor on that
occasion to the memory of our illustrious sailor, and a programme was
accordingly arranged which would best carry out this desire. Admiral
Fournier, who represented the naval forces, told me that it was after
reading the life of Paul Jones that he had resolved to become a sailor.
So that it was the inspiration of our great sea fighter that gave to France
an admiral who to-day commands the admiration of naval men of all
countries.

Our squadron was heartily welcomed at Cherbourg by a French fleet,
the inhabitants of the city vying with the officials to pay every possible
attention to our officers and men. In Paris a series of public dinners
and receptions were tendered them, and they were f^ted in a manner
rarely seen even in the brilliant and hospitable capital of France.

On July 6, the anniversary of Paul Jones's birth, Admiral Sigsbee
brought 500 blue jackets to Paris, and at 3.30 p. m. the ceremonies
attending the transfer of the remains began in the beautiful American
Church of the Holy Trinity, Avenue de I'Alma.

In the morning I had had the coffin brought from the vault into the
church, placed in front of the chancel, and covered with artistically
arranged flowers. The church itself was tastefully dressed with floral
decorations. The audience was one of the most distinguished that has
ever been drawn together in Paris. The President of the Republic was
represented by the chief of his household, who occupied a chair in front
of the chancel. On the right of the middle aisle were seated the presi-
dent of the council and minister of foreign affairs, the leading members
of the cabinet, and the highest officers of the French army and nav}';
on the left the resident American ambassador, the two special ambas-
sadors designated for the occasion, Admiral Sigsbee with his captains
and staff officers, Senator Lodge, and the members of the diplomatic
corps. Seated in the remaining pews and standing crowded in the aisles
and doorways were distinguished persons from many countries. The
elaborate uniforms, the exquisite flowers, the brilliant flags, enhanced
the beauty of a scene which it is seldom one's fortune to witness and
which will be memorable in history.

After careful consultation, I concluded that it would be appropriate
to avoid an ordinary funeral service, with dirges and requiems, as the
occasion was not a funeral, but rather a glorification of the dead, so that
anthems, patriotic airs, and marches glorieuses constituted the music.
After a simple but most impressive service had been conducted by the

74 Papers and Reports

rector, I formally delivered the remains to the Government of the United
States in the following words:

This day America claims her illustrious dead.

In the performance of a solemn duty I have the honor to deliver to the Govern-
ment of the United States, through its designated representative, the remains of
Admiral John Paul Jones, to be borne with appropriate marks of distinction to the
country upon whose arms his heroic deeds shed so much luster. It is believed that
their permanent interment in the land to whose independence his matchless victories
so essentially contributed will not be lacking in significance by reason of its long
delay.

It is a matter of extreme gratification to feel that the body of this intrepid com-
mander should be conveyed across the sea by the war vessels of a navy to whose
sailors his name is still an inspiration, and that this high mission should be confided
to so gallant an officer of the same noble profession as the distinguished Admiral
who commands the escorting squadron.

An earnest expression of recognition is due to the accomplished savants of France,
whose acknowledged skill in anthropologic science confirmed in every particular,
with entire accuracy and absolute certainty, the identification of the remains which
were so marvelously preserved.

We owe a cordial tribute of gratitude to the Government of the French Republic
for the cheerful proffer of facilities during the search for the body, the sympathy so
generously manifested upon its recovery, and the signal honors rendered upon this
occasion to the memory of a hero who once covered two continents with his renown
in battling for the cherished principles of political liberty and the rights of man,
for which the two sister Republics have both so strenuously contended.

All that is mortal of this illustrious organizer of victory on the sea lies in yonder
coffin beneath the folds of our national standard. When Congress adopted the
present form of the American flag, it embodied in the same resolution the appoint-
ment of Capt. John Paul Jones to command the ship Ranger. When he received
the news, history attributes to him the following remark: "The flag and I are twins;
born the same hour, from the same womb of destiny. We can not be parted in life
or in death." Alas! they were parted during a hundred and thirteen years, but
happily they are now reunited.

Mr. lyoomis. Assistant Secretary of State and junior special ambassa-
dor, received the body, making an interesting address, in which he recited
the most stirring events in the career of Paul Jones, and expressed the
extreme gratification of the Government upon the recovery of the remains.
He finished by delivering them to Admiral Sigsbee for transportation to
the United States. Admiral Sigsbee, in accepting the high mission with
which he had been charged, delivered a brief, appropriate, and eminently
sailorlike address, which was warmly received.

Eight American blue jackets now stepped forward and bore the cofiBn
solemnly from the church. They had been selected for their manly
bearing and their stature, each being over 6 feet in height. They
commanded the admiration of all who saw them, and the Americans
present were naturally delighted to hear the whispered comments of the
French ladies: ' ' Quels beaux gardens ! ' '

The coflnn was placed upon a French artillery caisson tastefully
adorned with flags.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 75

The elaborate procession, which took up its march at 5 o'clock, was
constituted as follows : A platoon of police, a regiment of French
cuirassiers, 500 American sailors, the body of John Paul Jones, borne
upon an artillery faisson, Admiral Sigsbee and staff, the American
ambassadors and Senator L,odge, the personnel of the American embassy,
the high officials of the French Government and of the diplomatic
corps, delegations from the American Navy League and from the
American Chamber of Commerce in Paris, members of the Society of
the Cincinnati, Sons of the American Revolution, and other patriotic
organizations, all on foot. Then came two batteries of French horse
artillery, two companies of American marines, and two battalions of
French infantry with their famous bands.

The column moved down the brilliant avenue of the Champs Elysees
and across the Seine bj' the stately bridge of Alexander III, which leads
to the Invalides. When the body of John Paul Jones was seen moving
solemnly toward the body of Napoleon, each having died in a distant
land to be brought back after many years with every mark of honor to
the country he had so eminently served, there was a sentiment aroused
which deeply touched the hearts of all participating in the ceremony.

When the wide Esplanade des Invalides was reached, the coffin was
lifted from the caisson and placed upon a catafalque erected beneath a tent
of superb construction, the material being a rich royal purple velvet,
hung with gold fringe, the front ornamented with swords, shields,
cuirasses, and other warlike devices. Here the troops filed by the
remains and rendered the highest military honors to the illustrious dead.
The coffin was then borne to the mortuary car prepared for it in the rail-
way station close by, and a special train bore it to Cherbourg that night
with its guard of honor composed of Americans and Frenchmen.

Paris had that day witnessed a pageant entirely unique in its way
and of surpassing beauty and solemnity. The weather was superb and
the streets and houses were appropriately decorated. The vast crowds
of spectators gazed upon the cortege with sympathy and respect. No
cheers or other inappropriate demonstrations were indulged in. The
onlookers simply unco\'ered reverently as the coffin passed. Their bear-
ing in every respect was admirable.

The next day, July 7, I went to Cherbourg to sail for home. A
cordial invitation had been received from the Government and Admiral
Sigsbee to take passage on board the flagship. While this was deeph-
appreciated, it was declined, as I felt that it would be in better taste to
return by the ordinary lines of travel, now that I had formall\- placed
the subject of the mission in the hands of the Navy and could render
no further useful service.

The fleets of the two nations lay side by side in that picturesque mili-
tary harbor, discharging their peaceful and sympathetic mission, our

76 Papers and Reports

phantom- colored vessels presenting an interesting contrast to the black
hulls of the French war ships. There I took a last look at the coffin
which contained all that is mortal of the hero, the search for whose
remains had furnished a congenial task for the past six years. Upon
sailing out of the harbor the squadron honored me with a parting
ambassadorial salute, and I now felt that my mission in connection
with the recovery of the body of our illustrious naval commander was
definitely ended.

Official Certification of the A'>nerican Embassy and Consulate of the Identification
of the body of Adtniral John Paul Jones

This is to certify that we, the undersigned, met at the School of Medicine (1,'Ecole
de Medecine), in the city of Paris, at lo o'clock a. m. on the 14th day of April, 1905,
for the purpose of verifying the identification of the remains recently found b}' the
American ambassador in the old Saint Louis Cemetery for the burial of foreign
Protestants, and believed to be those of Admiral John Paul Jones.

The body was lying on a table, entirely uncovered, having been taken from the
leaden coffin in which it had been found, and from which the linen had been
removed and placed on another table.

We had familiarized ourselves with the historical information regarding the age,
size, color of hair, general appearance, manner of dress, etc., of John Paul Jones,
and there were placed near the body the medal presented to him by Congress to
commemorate his battle with the Serapis, showing his head in profile, and a copy of
the well-known bust made from life by Houdon, which had been loaned for the
purpose by the Trocad^ro Museum. The remains were those of a man, and were
remarkably well preserved by having evidently been immersed in alcohol. The
flesh seemed firm and the joints were somewhat flexible. There were bits of tin
foil adhering to the hands, feet, and other parts of the body, as if they had been
wrapped with it. The body was lying on its back , the hands were crossed over the
abdomen, the left hand resting on the right. It was of a grayish brown or, rather,
a tan color. The right eyelid was closed, the other was slightly open. The features
presented quite a natural appearance, except that the cartilaginous portion of the
nose was bent over to the right and pressed down as if by the too close proximity
of the lid of the coffin, or by the excess of the hay and straw in packing the body.
Several fine oblique lines were traceable upon the face, made by the folds of the
winding sheet, which had left upon the skin an imprint of the texture of the fabric.
The lips were a very little shrunken or contracted, exposing the extreme ends of the
teeth. This slight contraction did not exist when the coffin was opened, and seemed
to have been caused by exposure to the air.

Doctor Papillault, professor of anthropology in the School of Anthropology, one
of the scientists who had been highly recommended and selected to aid in the work
of identifying the body on account of his valuable experience in such examinations,
explained to us the methods he had adopted and showed us the elaborate compara-
tive measurements he had made of all the important features of the body and of the
Houdon bust. The agreement was singularly exact in every important particular,
as will be shown in his report, which he read in our presence, explaining the details
as he proceeded. The principal results were as follows: The word "identical" will
be used to signify that the agreement between the corresponding dimensions of the
body and of the Houdon bust is exact, and that the appearance conforms strictly to
the authentic historical description of the Admiral.

Length of body, 5 feet 7^ inches. Height of Paul Jones was 5 feet 7 inches.
The three-eighths is the difference allowed by anthropologists between a person

John Paul Jones Commemoration 77

standing and the same person lying down. "Was 5 feet 7 inches tall, slender in
build, of exquisitely symmetrical form, with noticeably perfect development of
limbs." ("Anecdotes of the Court of I,ouis XVI.") Identical.

Principal features of face and head. Identical.

No beard. Identical. Face presented appearance of one who had not shaved for
several days.

Hair very dark brown, generally speaking, might be called black. The front hair
upon opening the cofSn was found to be of an unnatural tan color, like the flesh,
evidently discolored by the presence of the alcohol and straw. After taking some
hair from the back of the head, where it had been protected by being gathered into
a linen bag, and washing it its color was dark brown or black. "He was of the
complexion usually united with dark hair and eyes, which were his." ("Memoirs
of Paul Jones," Bdinburgh edition.) "His hair and eyebrows are black." ("Anec-
dotes of the Court of Louis XVI.") See specimen of hair accompanying this report.
Identical.

The hair in a few places was slightly tinged with gray. This fact, together with
the condition of the teeth, indicates a person between 40 and 50 years old. John
Paul Jones was 45 at the time of his death.

Doctor Capitan, professor of historic anthropology in the School of Anthropology,
vice-president of the commission on megalithic monuments, member of the committee
on historical and scientific works, and of the Society of Old Paris, etc. , then explained
the course pursued by him in the identification and the autopsy effected by opening
the back and removing and examining the internal organs, so singularly preserved,
and gave convincing evidence that the deceased had died of the disease which ter-
minated the life of John Paul Jones. (See Doctor Capitan's report.) In 1790 "the
doctors declared that his left lung was more or less permanently affected. " (Buell's
"History of Paul Jones.") " He died of dropsy of the chest. " (Official certificate
of burial.) "For two months past he began to lose his appetite, grew yellow, and
showed symptoms of jaundice." "A few days before his death his legs began to
swell, which proceeded upward to his body, so that for two days before his decease
he could not button his waistcoat and had great difficulty in breathing." (I^etter of
Colonel Blackden. )

The linen taken from the coffin, all in exceedingly good condition, except stained
in places a tan color, was then minutely examined. It consisted of a shirt of fine
linen, handsomely made, with plaits and rufiles corresponding with the historical
description of the Admiral's fondness for dress. "Pie is a master of the arts of dress
and personal adornment, and it is a common remark that notwithstanding the fru-
gality of his means he never fails to be the best dressed man at any dinner or fgte
he may honor by attending." ("Anecdotes of the Court of Louis XVI.") "To his
dress he was, or at least latterly became, so attentive as to have it remarked."
("Memoirs of Paul Jones," Edinburgh edition.) Identical.

A sheet on which was worked with thread the figure 2. A linen bag or cap neatly
made, which had been found at the back of the head and into which the hair had
been gathered. Upon this was a small initial worked with thread. When the bag
was held right side up, the letter was a "J," with the loop nearly closed. When
held in a reverse position, it was a "P." If a "J," it would be the initial of Jones,
the name which he added to his family name. If a "P," it would be the initial of
his original family name, Paul. It may be remarked that then, as now, the French
often marked their linen with the initial of their Christian name. In Paris the
Admiral was sometimes familiarly addressed as "Mon Paul" and "Monsieur Paul."
He often signed his name Paul Jones, and sometimes J. Paul Jones, as shown by his
correspondence.

There were no other articles in the coffin, except the hay and straw with which the
body had been carefully packed, and no inscription plate had been found. Taking

78 Papers and Reports

into careful consideration the convincing proofs of identification of the body by
means of the measurements, the autopsy, etc., the marks upon the linen, the fact
that the coffin was found in the cemetery in which it was proved to have been buried,
that it was superior in solidity and workmanship to the others, that the body had
been carefully preserved and packed as if to prepare it for a long voyage, " that, in
case the United States, which he had so essentially served and with so much honor,
should claim his remains, they might be more easily removed" (L,etter of Colonel
Blackden, the Admiral's intimate friend, witness of his will, and pallbearer at his
funeral, addressed to the eldest sister of Paul Jones, Mrs. Janet Taylor), and the
further fact that in exploring the cemetery there was every evidence that the graves
of the dead had never been disturbed; that only five leaden colEns were found, four
of which were easily identified, three of them having inscription plates, giving dates
and names of the deceased, and the fourth containing a skeleton measuring about
six feet two inches in length, we regard the identification as completely verified in
every particular and are fully convinced that the body discovered is that of Admiral
John Paul Jones.

(Signed) Horace Porter,

[SEAiv OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSY AT PARIS.] American Ambassador.

(Signed) Henry Vignaud,

Secretary American Embassy.

(Signed) John K. Gowdy,

U. S. Consul-General .

(Signed) A. Baili,y-Bi.anchard,

Second Secretary American Embassy.

[seal of the AMERICAN CONSUI,ATE AT PARIS.]

Translation of the Official Certification of the Participants and Witnesses

At the request of his excellency. Gen. Horace Porter, American ambassador, grand
cross of the Legion of Honor, recipient of the Congressional medal of honor, I, Justin
de Selves, prefect of the Seine, grand ofi&cer of the Legion of Honor, and I, Louis
Lepine, prefect of police, grand officer of the Legion of Honor, went on Friday, the
14th day of April, 1905, at 10 a. m,, to the School of Medicine, where a leaden coffin
was deposited containing the presumed remains of John Paul Jones.

The said coffin was discovered in the former cemetery for foreign Protestants under
the conditions stated in the report drawn up by the service des carrieres (quarries)
of the Department of the Seine and annexed to the present certificate. It was trans-
ported to the School of Medicine through the care of M. Gdninet, a municipal
superintendent of public works, on Saturday, April 8, 1905.

In our presence and in the presence of the ambassador of the United States and in
that of the following persons: Mr. Henry Vignaud, first secretary of the embassy of the
United States, commander of the Legion of Honor; Col. A. Bailly-Blanchard, late
aid-de-camp to the governor of Louisiana, second secretar}' of the embassy of the
United States, officer of the Legion of Honor, officer of public instruction, etc.; John
K. Gowdy, consul-general of the United States; Doctor Capitan, professor of the
School of Anthropology, member of the committee of historic and scientific works
(ministry of public education), member of the municipal commission of Old Paris,
late president of the Society of Anthropology of Paris, etc.; Dr. G. Papillault, assist-
ant director of the laboratory of anthropology of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes, pro-
fessor in the School of Anthropology; Doctor Hervd, doctor of medicine, professor
in the School of Anthropology; Dr. A. Javal, doctor of medicine, physician of the
ministry of the interior, laureate of the School of Medicine; Mr. J. Pray, architect in

John Paul Jones Commemoration 79

chief of the prefecture of police, officer of public eiiucatioii; M. Paul Weiss, mining
engineer, inspector of the quarries of the Seine, doctor of laws, the examination of the
coffin and body was proceeded with. General Porter, Colonel Bailly-Blanchard, and
Mr. Weiss declared that they recognized the coffin and the body as being those found
in the former cemetery for foreign Protestants and transmitted to the School of
Medicine for the purpose of identification.

Doctor Papillault read a detailed report and concluded that the body was that of
John Paul Jones.

By the side of the body were placed the bust of the Admiral by Houdon, a plaster
cast, loaned by the Museum of the Trocad^ro, of the original bust in the Academy of
Fine Arts at Philadelphia," also the medal signed Dupr^, which was struck in honor
of Paul Jones by order of Congress to commemorate his famous battle with the
Serapis and the Scarborough, which enabled one to verify the perfect resemblance
existing between the reproduction of the features of the Admiral and the corpse.

The shirt and winding sheet in which the body was wrapped were likewise exam-
ined. On the cap which contained his hair those present noted the existence of an
initial which in one direction is a capital "P" and in a contrary direction a "J,"
both letters constituting the initials of the Admiral.

After these various examinations Doctor Capitan read his report upon the result of
the autopsy which he had made upon the corpse and which revealed the symptoms
of the disease of which it is known the Admiral died. Doctor Capitan and Doctor
Papillault were both in accord in affirming as a scientific truth the identity of the
deceased.

In view of the perfect coincidence of all the facts relating to the burial and of the
agreement of all the physical measurements, those present were unanimous in rec-
ognizing the body as being that of Admiral John Paul Jones.

Consequently, the body was replaced in the leaden coffin in which it was discov-
ered, to be ultimately inclosed in a new triple coffin of pine, lead, and oak, sealed and
transferred to the vault of the American church in the Avenue de I'Alma.

In witness whereof we have drawn up and signed with all those in attendance the
present certificate in triplicate, one of which will be sent through his excellency the
minister of foreign affairs to his excellency the American ambassador for delivery to
the Government of the United States and the two others filed in the archives of the
prefecture of the Seine and the prefecture of police.

Thus done and signed at Paris, the nineteenth day of May, 1905.

(Signed) J. DE Sp;i,ves.

(Signed) Louis Lepine.

(Signed) Horace Porter

(Signed) Henry Vignaud.

(Signed) A. Bailly-Blanchard.

(Signed) John K. Gowdy.

(Signed) J. Capitan.

(Signed) Dr. G. PapileaueT.

(Signed) Geo. Herve.

(Signed) A. Javae.

(Signed) J. Pray.

(Signed) Paue Weiss.

[SE.^E OF The MUNICIPAEITY of PARIS.]

" See footnote, p. 66.

3 S,r

z o =

REPORT OF DOCTOR CAPITAN

[Translation of report on autopsy.]

THE yth of April, 1905, having been informed by Mr. Vallet, super-
intendent of mines, by order of the engineer, Mr. Weiss, of the
discovery in the explorations in Grange-aux-Belles street, No. 43,
of a new leaden cofSn appearing to contain a corpse well preserved, I
recommended that it should be immediately covered with plaster.

The next day, April 8, I went to the place, and ascertaining that it
was impossible in the gallery of the excavations to study the corpse,
together with Mr. Weiss I had the necessary measures taken for the
removing and transporting of the coffin and the corpse to the Medical
School of Practice of the Faculty of Medicine.

Thanks first to the extreme kindness of Mr. I,epine, prefect of police,
whom I saw during the day and to whom I explained the facts, thanks
also to the kind cooperation of Doctor Rieffel, chief of the anatomical
service of the School of Medicine, and of Mr. Himbert, superintendent
of material, the co£5n was removed the same evening, in entire secrecy,
to the School of Practice, where the next morning it was opened.

My colleague. Doctor Papillault, whom I had requested to be good
enough to take charge of the anatomical descriptive branch and of the
measurements, questions for which he has a very great capacity, made a
very careful study of the corpse and drew up the report which has been
read already.

I will therefore confine myself solely to m}' personal observations
relating either to the pathological anatomy of the subject or to the various
manipulations to which the corpse had been submitted, and which we
can verify, thanks to the traces that have been left upon the corpse.

I must say also that at various times we have exchanged ideas, Doctor
Papillault and I, and that we have always been of the same opinion,
namely, an accumulation of proofs, all leading, often by very different
ways, to this conclusion: That there can be here no other corpse in
question but that of Paul Jones.

The following observations will show some of the proofs which I have
gathered on the subject:

The opening of the coiSn took place April 9. I will not dwell upon
the particulars, either as to the care exercised in putting it in the cofiin
[the packing by means of straw and hay] or of the clothing [winding
sheet, shirt, and cap], having specially to concern myself with the
anatomical branch.

7257—07 6 8i

82 Papers and Reports

The consistency of the tissues, their aspect, even their special odor
(recalling the old anatomical specimens preserved in alcohol) enables
one to afErm quite surely that the subject was preserved in alcohol or
an aromatic alcoholic liquid without its having been subjected to any
other preparation, for it presents no traces of any incision having served
to inject any liquid whatever in the veins, according to the present
process of embalming. Besides, as we shall see later on, the viscera are
intact. We can thus determine the particularly careful means employed
in the preparation of the corpse and agreeing fully with the idea which
the friend of Paul Jones had at the time of his death to preserve it as
long as possible, so as to be able to transport it in perfect security to
America when the moment should arrive.

In the first place, the corpse had been probably completely, and at all
events surely over the hands and feet, covered with tin foil, carefully
applied upon the tissues. We found it there. It is, besides, a process
still in use at the present day.

Once clothed in its shirt and wrapped in its winding sheet, the corpse
was placed in a solid leaden coffin ; then the empty spaces were carefully
stuffed with hay and straw, probably rendered aromatic. The whole
must have been immersed in alcohol or an alcoholic mixture and the
lid soldered, which could be easily done by soldering the edges of the lid
turned over and hammered down. A small orifice of about 2 centimeters
diameter had been made at the top of the lid, over the head. It might
have served, also, to introduce alcohol, or at least to complete the supply
introduced and to admit of the escape of air or gas after or at the time
of closing the coffin. This small orifice was closed with solder at the
time of burial.

Under those conditions and according to the information which had
been furnished by the employees of the amphitheater, accustomed to
prepare corpses, a slow saturation takes place — of the muscles first, then
of the viscera themselves, which causes their perfect preservation.

The teguments, in fact, of a brownish gray, had retained their flexi-
bility. They were notably contracted. The muscles were of a brownish
gray also, strongly saturated with the preserving liquid. They had the
odor of anatomic specimens long preserved in alcohol. The tendons
and aponeuroses had retained all their solidity, and the subject could
be lifted up bodily.

Tuesday, April 11, my friend Mr. Monpillard, the very distinguished
and very well-known microphotographer, was kind enough to take the
very fine photographs of the subject, full size, and the head, annexed to
this report. They give very accurately the appearance of the corpse.

It was indispensable afterwards to make the autopsy. I did this on
April 13. In order not to alter in any way the appearance of the corpse,
I made the autopsy by opening the back.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 83

Upon opening the thorax I was greatly astonished to find the viscera
much contracted, but very well preserved. The lungs presented some
adhesions to the pleural walls, especially in the upper lobe. When cut
open, they show a brownish parenchyma. Upon the surface and in the
interior of the pulmonary tissue there exist, especially at the level of
the diaphragmatic edge of the lower lobe, small white hard masses,
varying in volume from a grain of canary seed to a diameter of from 3
to 4 millimeters, and having the appearance of calcified tubercles. But
in view of the existence of concretions of an analogous appearance at
the surface of the teguments of the lower limbs, this diagnosis can not
be sustained. Besides, as will be seen in the annexed report of Pro-
fessor Cornil, it is a question of a mass of tyrosin.

The heart, small, contracted, the color of dead leaves, has its valves
absolutely normal and still perfectly flexible; the walls of the two ven-
tricles measure 5 to 6 millimeters in thickness. There is no hypertrophy
of the left ventricle. On the surface of the right auricle there were
observed some flat concretions sous-endocardiques and recalling the
appearance of those of the lungs.

The liver was of a yellowish brown. When cut open, it presented a
tissue rather dense and compact, from which escaped the preserving
liquid, with which it was deeply saturated. It was also rather contracted.
The gall bladder was healthy and contained a pale yellowish brown
bile, of a pasty consistency.

The stomach was very small and contracted. The spleen appeared
comparatively more voluminous than it ought to have been, considering
the marked contraction of all the viscera. It measured from 6 to 7
centimeters upon its greater axis. Its tissue appeared rather flrm.

The two kidneys, on the contrary, small, hard, and contracted,
appeared more reduced still in volume than they should have been.

The intestines were completely contracted and empty.

Considering the alteration of the appearance of the head, which alwa3'S
results from the removal of the brain, I thought that there was no need
to remove this viscus. Previous observations had, besides, shown me
that the liquid on the outside could not penetrate the brain, which cer-
tainly must have been completely deteriorated.

Not wishing, out of respect to the distinguished personality of the sub-
ject, to retain the viscera, I had them carefully replaced in the thorax,
after having removed several small fragments intended for microscopic
examination, which Professor Cornil, professor of pathological anatomy
of the faculty of medicine of Paris, was good enough to make in person
with his great ability. But before giving the result of this examination,
the impression derived from this autopsy was, first, the astonishing
preservation of the viscera, which had enabled one to make so very
clear an autopsy one hundred and thirteen years after the death of the
subject. Furthermore, it seemed evident that one had to deal with the

84 Papers and Reports

organs of a patient rather pronouncedly consumptive, with viscera ema-
ciated and contracted. Thus the kidneys, on a simple microscopical
examination, had the appearance of kidneys affected by interstitial
nephritis.

Besides, the microscopic examination, of which we can see a full
account in the report hereto annexed of Professor Cornil, well corrob-
orates these first verifications.

I have been able to recognize very clearly on the fine microscopic
preparations executed by Professor Cornil in person, and which he has
been good enough to show to me, the following various peculiarities:

The heart is normal, with streaks of some muscular fibers still very
clearly visible.

The liver seems likewise normal, with its anatomical disposition very
clear. The cells of this organ were badly preserved. It was therefore
not possible to see whether there had been such cellular lesions, more or
less grave, as accompany the acute liver troubles analogous to symptoms
of jaundice which Paul Jones presented at the end of his life.

The lungs contain in sufficiently large number these white granula-
tions, which seem to have, under the microscope, the appearance of
masses formed by a felting of fine needles of tyrosin (product of the
decomposition of azotized substances). This particularly curious cir-
cumstance may be due to the fact (if it is admitted that the corpse had
simply been immersed in alcohol) that before the alcohol could have
penetrated all the viscera there took place a beginning of decomposition
which brought on the production of these crystals.

The microbes are equally abundant upon the sections of the lung.
They are the ordinary microbes of putrefaction, in the form of round
grains and small sticks. Professor Cornil tried in vain to discover the
tuberculous bacilli. •

Besides, the only lesions that one could locate were small rounded
masses, hard and at times calcified in the lungs, which correspond to
small patches of broncho-pneumonia partially cicatrized. This fact
agrees well with what we know of the disease of Paul Jones, who, after
his sojourn in Russia, coughed a great deal and to such an extent that
he could not speak at the session of the National Assembly where he
was received.

As to the kidneys, the sections presented the appearance, very clearly,
of chronic interstitial nephritis.

The vessels at several points had their walls thickened and invaded
by sclerosis. A number of glomeruli'' were completely transformed
into fibrous tissue and appeared in the form of small spheres, strongly
colored by the microscopic reactions. This verification was of the highest

« These glomeruli are rounded masses of vessels surrounded by a capsule and
are where the most important part of the urinary secretion takes place. — H. P.

John Paul Jones Com me vi oration 85

importance. It gave the key to the various pathological symptoms pre-
sented by Paul Jones at the close of life — emaciation and consumptive
condition, and especially a considerable swelling, which from the feet
gained completely the nether limbs, then the abdomen, where it even
produced ascites (exsudat intra-abdominal). All these affections are
often observed at the close of chronic interstitial nephritis. It can
therefore be said that we possess microscopic proof that Paul Jones
died of a chronic renal affection, of which he had shown symptoms
toward the close of his life.

In a word, like my colleague Papillault, and by different means, rely-
ing solely upon the appearance of the subject, on the comparison of his
head with the Houdon bust, and besides considering that the observa-
tions made upon his viscera absolutely agree with his clinical history, I
reach this very clear and well-grounded conclusion, namely, that the
corpse of which we have made a study is that of Paul Jones.

I will even add, always with Papillault, that, being given this con-
vergence of exceedingly numerous, very diversified, and always agree-
ing facts, it would be necessary to have a concurrence of circumstances
absolutely exceptional and improbable in order that the corpse here
concerned be not that of Paul Jones.

In closing I may be permitted to express, always with my colleague
Papillault, the extreme satisfaction that we have had in bringing to the
solution of this important problem that Gen. Horace Porter, ambassador
of the United States, assisted by Colonel Bailly-Blanchard, secretary of
the American embassy, has pursued with such remarkable and intelligent
perseverance, the cooperation of our special qualifications, thanks to
which the identification of the great American Admiral has been realized,
when, without these means of investigation, it would have been impos-
sible to arrive at the knowledge that at last the corpse of Paul Jones has
been discovered, and that thus the honors which he has awaited for
one hundred and thirteen years might at last be rendered him by his
country.

J. Capitan,
Professor in the Scliool of Anthropology,
Member of the Municipal Commission of Old Paris.

NAVAL ACADEMY MINIATURE OF JOHN PAUL JONES.
Prcseutcrl tn I,icuL A. li. Pinkhain, U. 8. N., by Misb JuiitttL- Taylor, iiiccc of John Paul JmifS

NAVAL ACADEMY MINIATURE OF JOHN PAUL JONES.
LRevei-tL- J

REPORT OF DOCTOR PAPILLAULT

[Translation.]

I.— FIRST EXAMINATION OF THE BODY

li FTER very long researches, General Porter, believing he had found
/ \ the remains of Admiral John Paul Jones, had them conveyed to
J- -*- the faculty of medicine, where a first examination was made on
April 9, 1905. There were present: Colonel Bailly-Blanchard, secretary
of the embassy of the United States; M. Weiss, engineer of mines;
Doctor Capitan, professor of the School of Anthropology, member of the
Commission of Old Paris; Doctor Papillault, the undersigned, assistant
director of the laboratory of anthropology at the Ecole des Hautes
Etudes, professor in the School of Anthropology at Paris.

The body was laid out at full length in a leaden coffin. Some hay
and straw were packed in all the interstices in such a manner as to
render the corpse completely immovable in its coffin, as though it were
destined to be subsequently transported a long distance. A special odor
led one to suppose that the body was immersed in alcohol. It was
wrapped in a sheet torn at the two extremities to reduce it to the size of
the body.

The subject was of the masculine sex. It was not clothed and bore
no insignia, neither arms nor jewelry, which is easily explained if the
foregoing hypothesis is admitted that the body, destined to be trans-
ported, had been carefully packed so as to render it immovable, but one
could not think of dressing it and packing it afterwards ^^'ith straw.
It is probable that arms and clothing were to have been put on him
later on.

A fine shirt, neatly made, constituted his sole garment. The back
was closely stuck to the winding sheet with matter from the body and
perhaps from substances employed in the embalming.

The hair was gathered into a cap of coarse linen. It had been combed
with care, in the fashion of the times, from the forehead toward the
back, curled in rolls over the ears. At the back it was brought together
in one mass, slightly twisted and falling naturally. Its length was
remarkable; it attained 75 to 80 centimeters.

The beard was shaven, leaving only a few days' growth.

The body was perfectly preserved. The skin was tanned; all the
soft parts were mummified, but were not yet completely dried. The
tissues presented a certain elasticity on being pressed.

87

Papers and Reports

The subject was laid on its back, the head turned to the right. The
nose was pressed down in its cartilaginous parts. The hands were
folded across the abdomen. The feet were forcibly extended.

After the first examination the removal of the body was proceeded
with. After having cut the coffin at its two extremities researches were
immediately commenced to identify the subject.

II.— RESEARCHES TENDING TO IDENTIFY THE CORPSE

Documents of various kinds placed at our disposal and capable of being
utilized:

1 . Historical documents upon the probable place of burial which Gen-
eral Porter followed with so much sagacity.

2. Documents concerning the disea.se of which John Paul Jones died
and' which my eminent colleague, Doctor Capitan, utilized in his
researches with his well-known abilitj^

3. Documents concerning the physical charactenstics of the Admiral
and which came from two entirely different sources:

(a) Certain details related in memoirs of the time, which Colonel
Bailly-Blanchard was good enough to communicate to me;

(J)) Two busts attributed to Houdon. I will review them successively
and compare them with the characteristics which could be discerned
upon the body.

A. WRITTEN DOCUMENTS

1. Jones was about 45 years of age when he died.

The features could furnish no information. The beard is strong, and
appeared to belong to a man who had passed his youth. The hair,
well washed, showed a few white hairs; the subject had thus evi-
dently attained maturity. The state of his incisor teeth confirmed this
approximation.

2. Jones was of a dark complexion.

The hair of the subject was dark. The hair on the body was some-
what more red, as the case generally is, but belonged to a dark subject.

3. Stature was 1.70 meters.

It is probable that this is an approximative measure, and it is, besides,
known that the stature varies more than a centimeter according to very
diverse circumstances in the same day.

The long sickness which carried off Paul Jones undoubtedly caused a
settling down and diminished his stature. The bottom of his coffin not
being absolutely flat, his stature on this account underwent a further
.slight diminution.

On the other hand, his stature of 1.70 meters was surely taken stand-
ing. Now the corpse was lying, and its length increases in this position
an average of i to 2 centimeters.

Finally, the feet being forcibly extended, I had to take the distance
comprised between the vertex and the inner ankle bone and add 8 ceuti-

John Paul J on e s Commemoration

meters, representing the rest of the stature— that is to say, the length
which separates the point of the ankle bone from the sole of the foot-
according to an average of loo corpses hitherto measured by me.

Altogether I found 1.71 meters, a figure which enters absolutely into
the quantities that one might expect to encounter.

To summarize: The written data and my observations made upon the
body compared in a very satisfactory manner. The question in point was
that of a man having attained maturity, with brown hair, with a stature
of about 1.70 meters taken in a standing position and about 1.71 meters
in a Ijdng one.

B. BUSTS BY HOUDON

These busts are two in number. One belongs to the Marquis de
Biron, the other to the museum at Philadelphia. « A replica of the
latter exists in the Museum of Casts of the Trocadero.

These two works, attributed to the great sculptor, appear to me to be
of the same person. But they present, for various reasons, some consid-
erable differences, which I am obliged to pass rapidly in review.

They were surely made at times between which there was a rather
long interval. The Paris bust has a thinner, more emaciated figure than
the Philadelphia one.

The modeling and the study given to it by the sculptor are likewise
different. The Philadelphia" work represents the person in the attire of
an admiral. The energetic face, the authoritative, even dominating, aspect,
all recall the conqueror of the English fleets, the redoubtable privateer,
whose indomitable courage sufficed for everything. But above all, one
feels that the artist desired to be faithful; the modehng is life-hke and
precise; the skin vibrates in the light; the least wrinkle is studied. It is a
portrait full of life and assuredly resembling.

On the contrary, in the terra-cotta bust of the Marquis de Biron the
rough sailor has become a man of the court. His hair is no longer flat-
tened down, but is combed with care and curled in elegant rolls. Hou-
don attenuated the energy of his features; he diminished the robustness of
the face, effaced the bumps of his forehead, and his touch, indifferent to
truth, no longer made life throb beneath the infinitely varied modeling
of the surface. It is a sketch full of grace and animation, but somewhat
conventional. The artist wished to flatter the mania of the person who
became ' ' so elegant in his dress as to have it remarked. ' '

We will simply make our comparisons with the Philadelphia bust, after
having noted, nevertheless, that the arrangement of the hair on the
corpse is exactly the same as that observed on the bust of the Marquis
de Biron.*

" See footnote, p. 66.

i The Trocad&o bust is life size. The de Biron bust is three-quarters size. — COM-
PILER.

90 Papers and Reports

A preliminary remark is here necessary. One can not expect to find
in a work of art shapes exactly identical with the subject that has served
as the model. The plaster represents living tissues swollen by the blood
which animated them; we had nothing to compare therewith but a
skeleton covered with a tanned skin and shrunken tissues. The bony
structure itself is not always respected; the artist rarely takes many
measures. Once the main points taken up, he lays the compass aside,
and somewhat neglects proportions and applies himself to seizing the
expression of the features.

But nevertheless no resemblance can be obtained without the general
form being respected; the fancies of the artist are thus confined within
limits beyond which one can not pass with impunity. Moreover, certain
proportions are quite expressive. No resemblance is obtained if rela-
tions are not maintained of the forehead, the nose, the upper lip, the
chin, etc. ; they can not be altered without the character of the face
losing at the same time its personality. The experienced eye of a great
artist thus imposes, for certain prominent proportions, quite narrow
limits to any wanderings of the sculptor's chisel.

Finally, it must not be forgotten that the variations of the human face
and of its divers parts are enormous. For a head of a given size each
of the parts of the face can vary about one-third. If, then, we do not
find either in the descriptive characteristics which we are about to pass
in review, or in the dimensions which we have taken up, an}' consider-
able differences between the bust and the body; if these characteristics
show, on the contrary, a constant analogy, we can proclaim the identity
of the two with the more likelihood as the number of our observations
shall be the greater.

The comparisons I have been able to make are of two kinds —
one bearing upon descriptive characteristics, the other upon measure-
ments.

C. DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

I have not been able to take up any characteristics the divergence of
which was sufficiently marked to waive the identification of the bust
and the body. On the contrary I note the following similarities:

The implanting of the hair is the same. The temples are exposed
by a beginning of baldness.

The forehead is rather straight, the skull rounded, with pronounced
frontal bumps. The superciliary arches are somewhat prominent, but
the space between the eyebrows (the globella), on the contrary, is very
little so.

The cheek bones are prominent and massive.

The root of the nose does not recede behind the frontal plane, as is
often the case. The bridge of the nose is rather thin, the root some-
what narrow.

f hn Pa II, I Jones Comme7noratio7i

91

Seen in profile, the nose is of an undulating form on the bust. Now
this form depends a great deal on the cartilage. The bony part of the
nose, however, is quite compatible with it.

The prognathism of the face is feeble; that of the upper lip equally
so ; but the chin is so little prominent that the projection of the jaws is
remarkable. The chin itself is solid, neither bifid nor pointed.

The softer parts — eyes, mouth, lobes of the nose, etc. — are too much
deformed for me to make a useful comparison. Bj' an excess of pru-
dence I will not even insist upon a very peculiar characteristic of the
cartilage of the ear pointed out to me by Professor Georges Herve, and
which seemed entirely identical on the bust and on the body. However,
I will add one remark ; ordinarily there exists between the face and the
cranium a harmony which led me to suppose, on seeing the engraving of
the bust long before any examination of the body, still in its cof&n, that
the head had a tendency toward brachycephaly. I had pointed this out
to Doctor Capitan, and I found a cephalic index of 82.6 ; consequently
there was moderate brachycephaly.

D. :\ip:asurement

Length of face from root of hair to chin . ...
Length from root of hair to subnasal point .

Length from subnasal point to chin

Length of upper hpa

Length of lower lip & and of chin

Minimum width of forehead

cm
19

Body.

cm.
19-5
9
4
5
6

a Taken on the body from the subnasal point to the edge of the superior incisors,
b Taken on the body from the edge of the inferior incisors to the end of the chin

The foregoing measurements are the only ones I was able to take with
any certainty on the body and on the bust simultaneously. The bizy-
gomatic width, so interesting to anthropologists, could not be taken on
the bust on account of the hair which masks that region. The width of
the cheek bones, frequently taken by artists, had no value whatever on
the body, the tissues of which had shrunk and presented dimensions
which are too weak.

The length of the nose was likewise not comparable; a long, well-
accentuated crease on the bust between the eyebrows does not admit of
determining the beginning of the nose in a sufficiently approximate
manner. There remain, then, only the measures to the number of six,
which I set forth in the above table.

It is to be remarked, first, that the dimensions of the bust are
exactly those of the corpse; the comparison is therefore easier than if
the bust had been of a reduced size. Thus all the measurements offer an
approximation really extraordinary. Two experienced anthropologists

92 Papers and Reports

measuring a same subject would often make as great differences. Thus
I could not hope to find between a bust and its model a similar identity.
I recollect having measured, some years ago, a cast of the head of
Blanqui and the statue which Dalou made from this same cast. Dalou
was a very precise and conscientious artist, using and even abusing, as
his colleagues said, the compass. I found differences greater than those
in this case.

Is it possible to admit of so extraordinary a coincidence, that of a
subject, buried in the same place, having a high social position, of a
stature very much the same, of nearly the same age, color of hair iden-
tical, and representing the features of the face with resemblance enough
to admit of the above comparisons we have made, and presenting, finally,
the same proportions of the face? If the number of subjects compared
included several millions, perhaps the probability of such a coincidence
might be admitted ; but here it is a question of a very limited number of
individuals interred in the same place. Now, of one hundred bodies
taken by chance, I have found less than ten the stature of which could
answer to that of John Paul Jones. With the variations of 2 centime-
ters there remained no more than three of a dark color. Of these, no
dimensions of the face coincided. By this sole example one can figure
the amount of coincidences that would have to be put together to bring
about the identity of the numerous characteristics taken into considera-
tion as above.

Finally, it must be further admitted that chance, after having chosen
among the thousands an individual purposely made to deceive the experts,
would have had to make him die of a malady destined to deceive
Doctor Capitan in his autopsy, and then, as a last stratagem, to have
marked the cap which contained his hair with an initial which in
one direction is a capital P with a small loop, and looked at in contrarj-
direction a J, the loop of which is closed, both letters constituting the
initials of the Admiral.

Will it not appear to any impartial reader that chance would have put
itself to very great trouble in bringing to the same point so man}' coinci-
dences, when it was so simple to lay Admiral John Paul Jones where he
should be ? It is for this reason, without forgetting that doubt is the first
quality of all investigators, and that the most extreme circumspection
should be observed in such a matter, that I am obliged to conclude that
all the observations which I have been able to make plead in fa^'or of
the following opinion: The body examined is that of Admiral John
Paul Jones.

Done at Paris, April 14, 1905.

Dr. G. Papili^ault,
Assistant Director of the Laboratory of Anthropology

of the Acole dcs Hautes Etudes,
Professor at the School of Anthropology , j Quai Malaquais.

JOHN PAUL JONES.
From engravitig by Henri Toussaint, iq

REPORT OF PROFESSOR CORNIL

[Translation.]

THE organs examined by me, the lungs, the heart, the Hver, the
kidneys, were well enough preserved to be easily recognized by
the naked eye and under the microscope. Their structure was pre-
served; their fibrous structure and their general disposition, seen slightly
magnified, clearly characterized each of these viscera; but with a higher
magnifying power (from 200 to 500 diameters), the cellular elements
were badly preserved, the nuclei were badly or not at all colored. The
thin sections {coupes) were encumbered with salts, leucine, tyrosin,
crystals of fat, etc., and bacteria. We conclude therefrom, viewing the
matter from the state of preservation of the body, that it had been placed
in alcohol a day or two after death had ensued, or that the alcohol had
not been in sufficient quantity t(5 penetrate all the parts and that a partial
decomposition had taken place in the deeply seated organs, the cells
of which had been incompletely acted upon. It may be also that the
alcohol had been spilt and had escaped before the action was complete.
It is this which accounts for the presence of bacteria and salts and for
the bad preservation of the cells. With these remarks we give the result
of our analysis for each particular organ.

Left lung. — On the surface of the lungs were whitish and opaque
granules, from the size of a millet seed to a hemp seed. We cut thin
sections of the lung surface comprising several of these granules. They
were located in the pleura and in the lung itself. The fibrous structure
of the pleura and the alveoli were perfectly preserved. The granules
themselves were surrounded by the pleuropulmonary tissues which
formed an envelope around them. They were composed entirely of
voluminous clusters of fine crystals, acidulated with tyrosin, perfectly
characteristic, in brush form and ^-ery long. These crystals resisted
the action of acetic acid and even nitric acid diluted with water. My
attention was attracted in this lung to a small grayish spot in the
center and surrounded by a thick fibrous envelope. Upon the section
the central part presented pulmonary alveoli distended by small round
cells and an agglomeration of tyrosin crystals.

I treated several of these preparations with Ziehl's coloring matter to
search for the bacilli of tuberculosis. There were none. It was simply
a former pneumonia or broncho-pneumonia spot healed and surrounded
by a fibrous tissue.

93

94 Papers and Reports

The heart. — The heart, which was small on account of being con-
tracted by the alcohol, showed no lesions of the orifice. The aorta
exhibited no signs of atheromatosis. Microscopic sections of the cardiac
walls showed muscular fibers, streaked lengthwise and crosswise, sepa-
rated by the normal conjunctive tissues. A like abundance of small
crj'Stals and bacteria were noticed.

The liver. — Sections of this gland, slightly magnified, resembled
perfectly those of a normal liver; the lobes, the central veins of the
lobes, the sinus of the veine-portc , the radiating bays of the hepatic cells
are all well preserved. We can thus assure ourselves that the con-
junctive perilobular tissue is not thickened. With a higher magnifying
power the hepatic cells have no coloring nuclei, and there also exists
there numerous varieties of crystals and microbes. The masses of
tyrosin visible to the naked eye, like very fine white and opaque
granules, are less numerous than in the lungs.

The kidneys are well preserved in their form. Sections enabled one
to establish the constituent elements, the fibrovascular structure, the
tubuli, and glomeruli. Preparations colore' in two ways, with hema-
toxyline, and, according to Van Giesen, revealed glomerulose lesions.
A certain number of glomeruli, in fact, presented a fibrous formation,
characterized by the red coloring due to the Van Giesen colorant. In
the place of the vessels with thin walls and permeable by the blood, a
uniform red tint is observed, due to the formation of the conjunctive
tissue. It is a real interstitial glomerulitis far advanced on some of
the glomeruli thus transformed into fibrous nodules. Moreover, the
Bowmann capsules were at times much thickened. The arteries were
likewise very thick and surrounded or filled with crystals of fat.

These lesions indicate interstitial nephritis. The bad preservation of
the cells do not prevent me from making a statement with reference to
the lesions to which they were subjected.

The spleen did not reveal any anatomical lesions.

According to this examination, the only organs which were injured
were the kidneys. As far as can be j udged b j^ the examination of the
badly preserved viscera, we believe that the case in point is interstitial
nephritis, with fibrous degeneracy of the glomeruli of Malpighi, which
quite agrees with the symptoms observed during life.

Paris, June i, 1905.

V. CORNIL.

Note. — Six illustrations, microphotographs of sections of kidneys, lungs, and
liver of Jones's body have been made. They are an important part of the testimony
which establishes the identity of the body.

A limited number of these prints have been prepared, and any patriotic, medical,
or other society or organization desiring to e.N:amine them and compare them with
the printed reports regarding the diseases with which John Paul Jones suffered may
obtain them from the Navy Department and insert them in its copy of this volume
following the report of Professor Cornil. — Computer.

VIEW OF THE YARD OVER THE BURIED SAINT LOUIS CEMETERY.

Within the doorway at the left is the fifth shaft (marked E on the plan), near which the body of
John Pa'ul Jnnes was found. Drawn by Jay Hanibrid.ti-e from photo^raph^^.

PLACE WHERE THE BODY WAS FOUND,

Gen. Horace Porter at the left, Second Secretary of Embassy A. Bailly-Blanchard, and Paul AVeiss,
engineer. The workman holds the point of his pick over the spot where he had struck the leaden
coffin.

REPORT OF ENGINEER WEISS

[Translation.]

French Republic,
Prefecture of the Department of the Seine,

Paris, May p, ipo^.

At the request of His Excellency Gen. Horace Porter, American
ambassador to the French Republic, the service of the quarries of the
Department of the Seine was charged hy the prefect of the Seine to
proceed with the researches with a view of discovering the remains of
Admiral John Paul Jones, who died in Paris in 1792 and was interred
in the former cemetery for foreign Protestants, as it appears from the
report of the burial transcribed by Mr. Charles Read.

It was the long and patient researches of General Porter, assisted by
Colonel Bailly-Blanchard, which determined with certainty the place of
burial.

They found in the archives, and particularly in the archives of the
prefecture of the Seine, documents giving the exact plan and description
of the cemetery.

On the other hand, it appears from a letter of Colonel Blackden — an
intimate friend of Admiral Jones — that the body had been put in a
leaden coffin, so that it might be easilj' transported to America in case
the United States, which he had served in such a brilliant manner and
with so much honor, should claim his remains.

The place and manner of burial were therefore perfectly well deter-
mined and enabled one to limit the researches. It was a matter of con-
cern in the first place to ascertain with precision the exact boundaries of
the former cemetery for foreign Protestants.

Now this cemetery figures very plainly upon the map of Paris, made
by Verniquet in 1791. It consisted of a garden of large dimensions,
bordering the rue Grange-aux- Belles and adjoining a dwelling house
looking upon a courtyard, from which it was separated by a wall con-
taining a gate. This gate opened upon a flight of steps giving access
to the cemetery, the ground of which was lower than the courtyard.
See plan " annexed to report.

According to divers documents collected by Colonel Bailly-Blanchard,
the garden forming the cemetery was planted with fruit trees and was
traversed crosswise by two wide walks.

<* Reproduced, p. 56.

95

96 Papers a 71 d Reports

After 1805 burials ceased in the cemetery, and in the first half of the
nineteenth century the garden was leveled up with all sorts of rubbish
to a height of 3 or 4 meters, so that the ground of the garden came up
to a level with the courtyard. Divers buildings were erected on this
filled- up ground, notably a building used as a public laundry, two
houses, stables, barns, etc. All these buildings were erected upon unsta-
ble earth ; subsequent excavations showed that the foundations did not
reach down to the level of the buried bodies, and that they did not rest
upon the natural soil — consisting largely of gypsum, which forms the
substratum of the region — but upon the made earth.

The photographs, Nos. i to 9, inclusive, annexed to the present report,
enable one to form an idea of the nature of the buildings erected on the
site of the former cemetery and of the difficulties which the researchers
were to encounter.

The house on the courtyard now bearing the number 47, ot the rue
Grange-aux-Belles, had already figured in the plan of Verniquet. Since
then there had been added another building, serving the purpose of a
hotel, having two windows on the rue Grange-aux-Belles. The sepa-
rating wall of the courtyard and the cemetery is still visible and can
be easily traced on the premises.

On the side of the rue Grange-aux-Belles, the present wall, indicated
by the numbers 43 and 45, formed the boundary of the cemetery, which
was likewise inclosed on the opposite side by walls raised afterwards,
which still exist in the old places.

The limits of the old cemetery were therefore easy to determine, and
no doubt could exist with regard to the extent of the area in which the
researches were to be made.

At the request of His Excellency General Porter, it was decided to
begin the researches beneath the laundry. The excavations could not
be undertaken by means of open cuts on account of the opposition made
by the tenants, and recourse to subterranean work had to be resorted to.
A shaft was sunk at A (see plan) under the shed belonging to Bassigny,
a grain dealer. The first 2.70 meters passed through the filling, and
after that a stratum of black vegetable earth, which formed the soil of
the old cemetery. Below this bed of vegetable soil, of a thickness of i . 30
meters, abed of black earthmixed with the debris of gypsum was traversed,
when the natural soil formed of white marl and gypsum was reached.

With the first blows of the pick boues were encountered, which fixed
the exact level at which the dead had been interred. Nowhere were any
vaults of masonry, analogous to those in cemeteries of the present day,
discovered. All the bodies had been interred directly in the earth.

At a depth of 5.50 meters the shaft was stopped, and on a level with the
vegetable earth, a gallery was run penetrating beneath the laundry and
carried as far as the old wall of separation of the cemetery for foreign

John Paul Jones Commemoration 97

Protestants and the courtyard of the adjacent dwelling houses. The old
wall was encountered at the exact spot indicated on Verniquet's map.
Directly after this discovery, which fixed definitively the site of the old
cemetery, two longitudinal galleries were run, intended to explore the
laundry. At the same time a shaft was sunk in the street by which two
further galleries to meet the first two were run; moreover, to hasten
the work, excavations were made in the cellars situated on the north
side of the building (see photographs of works, Nos. i to 13, inclusive).
Close to the site of the old flight of stairs, giving access to the garden,
the gallery extending along the wall of separation encountered a leaden
coffin, very much flattened, the head of which was wanting. On the
center of the coffin a copper plate was discovered, in a very bad state,
which was able to be partially deciphered by the care of M. Andre, a
restorer of objects of art. The face was indecipherable, but on examin-
ing the reverse side, an inscription was found indicating that the body
was that of an Englishman who died May 20, 1790.

The co£&n was therefore not that of Admiral Jones.

Beneath the laundry, the area of which was fully explored, both by
galleries and by soundings, no other leaden coifin was found, while many
boDes were encountered.

The work being particularly difficult in this place on account of the
infiltrations of water, all the galleries were rapidly and carefully refilled
and the work of exploring the property of the grain dealer begun.
Three fresh shafts were sunk and the galleries extended in all directions
(see plan). At the base of shaft B in the north gallerj' a second leaden
cofiin, perfectly well preserved, was soon discovered. It bore a plate
with the name of ' ' Richard Hay, Esquire, died in Paris the 29th Jan-
uary, 1785." The researches were then continued and a few meters
farther on another leaden coffin was unearthed. In immediate contact
above it there had been interred, without precaution, another bodj-.
The whole was taken out and the bones above removed.

It was then established that the wooden coffin, which had contained
the leaden coffin, and of which some fragments were still on the side,
had been removed from the upper part except near the feet. No dis-
tinctive mark or plate could be discovered. It is probable that at the
moment of burying the second body the gravedigger had been led to
remove the top of the wooden coffin and the plate at the same time.

Under these conditions nothing remained but to open the coffin to
identify the body. The opening of the coffin took place in the presence
of His Excellency Gen. Horace Porter, Colonel Bailly-Blanchard, M.
Weiss, inspector of quarries, and the agents charged with the conduct
of the work.

As soon as the lid was raised the minute precautions that had been
taken when the body was placed in the coffin became apparent. The
7257-07 7

98 Papers and Reports

body was packed in hay and straw and appeared ready to be transported
to a long distance. Upon withdrawing some of the straw the winding
sheet which enveloped the corpse became visible, and in raising this sheet
the body was discovered to be in a marvelous state of preservation.

The sole fact of the careful packing was a serious presumption leading
to the supposition that one was in the presence of Admiral Jones. The
letter of Colonel Blackden expressly mentions that the body had been
arranged in such a manner that it could be easily transported.

It was then decided to have the body examined by Doctor Capitan,
professor in the School of Anthropology. Doctor Capitan came to
visit the premises on Saturday, April 8, and asked that the coffin
be conveyed to the School of Medicine in order to proceed with the
anthropometric measurements necessary for the identification.

After the prefect of police had been notified, the coffin was trans-
ported, Saturday evening, to the School of Medicine, through the care
of M. Geninet, municipal conductor. It was handed over to the super-
intendent of materials and deposited in one of the dissecting rooms until
the official identification could take place.

While the anthropometric measurements were being proceeded with,
the subterranean work was continued.

Along the northern wall a fourth leaden coffin was found, bearing the
name of "George Maidison, Gentilhomme anglais et Secretaire de I'Am-
bassade de Sa Majeste Britannique aupres de Sa Majeste tres-chretienne,
decede a Paris le 27 Aolit 1783, ige de 36 ans. "

Along the western wall a well was discovered, which was mentioned
in the old documents pertaining to the cemetery, and then a brick vault
containing a wooden coffin without any indication of name, and, finally,
a fifth leaden coffin.

This anonymous coffin, 2.10 meters long, contained the remains of a
man of very tall stature ; it was accompanied by a leaden rectangular-
shaped box containing the viscera of the deceased and a leaden heart of
large dimensions in which the heart of the deceased had evidently been
inclosed.

This coffin could not have been that of Admiral Jones, partly for the
reason of the exceptional stature of the corpse, and partly on account of
the special circumstances of the burial, which would certainly have been
mentioned in the certificate of burial.

In the meantime the anthropometric measurements established the
identity of the body previously found. The measurements of the head,
taken with care, coincided to within a millimeter with those of the bust
of Admiral Jones, by Houdon, in possession of the Trocadero ; the ini-
tial found upon the cap which contained the hair afforded, moreover, a
fresh proof in support of the conclusions of the scientists. Excavations
were consequently stopped on April 15, and the restoring of the premises
to order begun.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 99

Thus, as can be seen by an examination of the map, the old cemetery
was almost entirely explored; 25 meters of shafts, 245 meters of gal-
leries, 178 meters of soundings were excavated.

To summarize: In the course of the excavations five leaden coffins
onl}' were found.

One alone, according to the circumstances, could be that of Admiral
Jones. The body contained in this coffin was in such an extraordinary
state of preser\^ation that it could be easily identified.

The discovery of the remains of Admiral Jones is thus scientifically
established, and the service of the quarries is happy to have contributed
to bring again to the light of day the celebrated sailor who covered him-
self with so much glory at the time when the arms of old France and
the 3'oung American Republic of the United States fought shoulder to
shoulder.

Paris, the 19th day of Maj-, 1905.

P. Weiss,
The Engineer of Mines, Inspector of Quarries.

FRENCH ARTILLERY CAISSON. BEARING THE COFFIN OF JOHN PAUL JONES, MOVING ALONG THE CHAMPS-

ELYSEES, PARIS, JULY 6, 1905

From a photograph.

AMERICAN SAILORS CROSSING THE BRIDGE OF ALEXANDER III. AND PASSING BEFORE THE CATAFALQUE ON
WHICH WAS PLACED THE COFFIN OF JOHN PAUL JONES, PARIS, JULY 6, 1905

From a photo,grapli.

REPORT OF REAR-ADMIRAL SIGSBEE
U. S. NAVY

[Hxtract.]

Office of the Commander Second Squadron,

North Atlantic Fi,eet,
U. S. S. Brooklyn, Tompkinsville , N. Y.,July 26, 190^.
Sir: In making my report relative to the John Paul Jones expedition,
under .mj' command in chief, I shall divide the report into four parts,
owing to the length of the report. The first part will embrace the
passage from Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, to Cherbourg,
France, including the proceedings immediately following the arrival at
Cherbourg. The second part will embrace the matters relating to our
visit to Cherbourg and Paris, including the ceremonies connected with
the transfer and the embarkation of the remains of Paul Jones. The
third part will embrace the return passage from Cherbourg to Annapolis,
Md., and the fourth part will embrace matters connected with the trans-
fer of the remains to the Naval Academy at Annapolis.

PART I

In obedience to the orders of the Navy Department, I took command
in chief of the third division of the Second Squadron, detached tempo-
rarily from the North Atlantic Fleet for the John Paul Jones expedition,
on June 18, 1905.

I got the squadron under way, at Tompkinsville, for Cherbourg,
France, at i p. m. on Sunday, June 18.

The squadron was composed of the Brooklyn, flag ship, Capt. John M.
Hawley, U. S. Navy; the Tacoma, Commander Reginald F. Nicholson,
U. S. Navy; the Galvesto?i, Commander William G. Cutler, U. S. Navy;
and the Chattayiooga, Commander Alex. Sharp, U. S. Navy.

Because of the recently reported icebergs and floes well to the south-
ward of the Great Bank, I chose the most southerly steamship route for
the passage.

On June 26, late in the afternoon, the North German Lloyd steam-
ship Deutschland passed in sight of the squadron, bound eastward, and
the American Line steamship New York, bound westward, passed a few
hours later.

No stops were necessary because of derangement of the machinery or
other mishaps.

I02 Papers and Reports

The light-house on Bishops Rock was sighted at about i p. m. on
June 29. After that the weather thickened. Thereafter, until 9.30
a. m. the following day, June 30, no landmarks were seen, nor any
whistles heard, until we sighted the breakwater fort at the western
entrance to Cherbourg, about 2 miles distant, and saw the pilot boats
coming out.

"We entered the harbor in column at about 9.30 a. m., and therefore
on time, according to our schedule, notwithstanding the fog. The daj'
before, when off to southward of the Lizard, I sent a wireless message
broadcast, stating that the John Paul Jones squadron was in the channel
and due at Cherbourg early on the 30th. We received a reply, not
knowing whence at the time, asking if I desired telegrams to be sent.
I replied, "Yes; to the American ambassador at Paris and the Ameri-
can consul at Cherbourg." I afterwards found that telegrams had
been sent and received accordingly, and, as it appeared, from the Lizard.
It may as well be said here that for some days previously we had
received from the station at Poldhu items of news, by wireless, daily.
They reached us with more or less completeness when we were distant
a thousand miles from Poldhu.

"When inside of the breakwater I saluted the port with 21 guns. The
salute was returned at once. During the day ofl&cial visits were made
as follows by myself: To Vice-Admiral Besson; to Rear-Admiral de
Marolles, the subprefet; and to M. Albert Mahieu, mayor of Cherbourg.
These visits were returned while I was in Paris, my departure having
been previously arranged for in conference with "Vice- Admiral Besson.
In fact, throughout all the proceedings thereafter, Vice-Admiral Besson
showed to myself the most delicate appreciation of the difficulties of my
position, owing to the scant time at my disposal, in which many duties
and operations were to be completed.

At 9 a. m. on July i three French war vessels of the second division
of the Squadron of the North, under Rear-Admiral S. Leygue, arrived
in Cherbourg from Brest. These vessels had also encountered twelve
hours of thick fog. The French vessels were the Bouvincs, Captain
Lamson; the Henri IV, Captain Lephay, and Amiral Trchonart, Captain
Schilling. The French vessels were painted black, and were assigned
berths less favorable than ours for communication with the shore.
Although Rear-Admiral Leygue was my senior, he saluted my flag
immediately his flagship had reached the inside of the breakwater,
thereby anticipating me, and evidently by intention; in fact, I so ascer-
tained afterwards. I promptly made my visit to Admiral Leygue, and
he promptly returned it, knowing that I desired to proceed to Paris on
the evening of that day. He also directed his captains to visit me
immediately, which they did. This was mereh- characteristic of the
tact and consideration shown throughout by all French officers.

John Paul Jo7ies Commemoration

103

At 5 p. m. on July i , I left Cherbourg for Paris with my personal
staff, Lieut. Cassius B. Barnes, U. S. Navy, and Lieut. Edward McCau-
ley, jr., U. S. Navy, and with an additional staff composed of the
following officers: Capt. John M. Hawley, U. S. Navy, commanding
Brooklyn, Commander Reginald F. Nicholson, U. S. Navy, command-
ing Tacoma. Commander William G. Cutler, U. S. Navy, commanding
Galveston; Commander Alexander Sharp, U. S. Navy, commanding
Chattanooga; Lieut. Commander Frederic C. Bowers, U. S. Navy, fleet
engineer; Surg. John M. Steele, XJ. S. Navy, fleet medical officer; Pay
Inspector Samuel L. Heap, U. S. Navy, fleet paymaster; and Chaplain
G. Livingston Bayard, U. S. Navy.

I also ordered Mr. Henri Marion, professor of languages. United
States Naval Academy, to Paris, as I required his services as interpreter
and in translating official documents. Mr. Marion had been granted
permission by the Navy Department to take passage on the flagship to
Cherbourg and return.

The train arrived in Paris a few moments after midnight. We pro-
ceeded at once to the Hotel Brighton, 218 Rue de Rivoli, where quarters
had previously been engaged for us.

PART II

On the night of July i, Mr. Francis B. Loomis, special ambassador of
the United States in connection with the reception and transfer of the
remains of John Paul Jones, arrived at Cherbourg on board the steamer
Philadelphia. I had prepared for his reception on board the Brooklyn.
Mr. Loomis was met on board the Philadelphia by an officer from the
Brooklyn, and escorted to the Brooklyn, where he remained overnight
in quarters already prepared for him. He left the following morning,
July 2, for Paris, where he arrived at 3.30 p. m.

On Sundaj' afternoon, July 2, with my whole escort of officers, I
visited the American ambassador, Mr. Robert S. McCormick, at the
embassy. He was very zealous for our convenience and entertainment,
and, by his tact, courtesy, and knowledge of affairs, contributed greatly
to the success which attended our visit to Paris. In social-official
matters, Mrs. !McCormick gave us most kindly and helpful advice, in
addition to dispensing gracefully the hospitalities of the embassy.

On July 3, Monday, at 11.30 a. m., Mr. Loomis and m^-self, attended
by Lieutenant- Commander Smith and Lieutenant J^IcCauley, visited b>-
appointment the French prime minister, M. Rou\'ier. Afterwards I
visited ]Mr. Thomson, the minister of marine, and his chief of staff. In
the afternoon an informal reception was given at the house of the Amer-
ican naval attache, Lieutenant-Commander Smith, which our whole
party attended. That day I also made my visit to Gen. Horace Porter,
first special ambassador of the United States in connection with the
transfer of the remains of John Paul Jones.

I04 Papers and Reports

On Tuesdaj', the 4th of July, we received many visits in the morning
from Americans living in Paris, and, both by telegram and letter, I
received expressions of patriotism and felicitation on our national holi-
day. The annual dinner of the American Chamber of Commerce, to
which all had been invited, was abandoned in respect to the memory of
the late Secretary of State, Mr. John Hay, whose remains were at that
time lying in state. At 6 p. m. I proceeded with my staff, in company
with Mr. lyoomis, to the American embassy, from which place we were
conducted to the palace of the President, where we were received by the
President of France, Mr. I,oubet. From the embassy the five carriages
containing Mr. lyoomis, myself, and staff, were completely surrounded
by a company of cuirassiers, forming the same escort which was given
the King of Spain on his first visit to the President of France during the
the preceding month. At the gate of the palace the escort parted
and permitted the carriages to pass within, where several companies of
infantry were drawn up. On our arrival, the troops presented arms
and the band played the American national anthem. The President
expressed the friendly feeling which the people of France held for the
American people, and referred to the cause of this visit as another tie
which served to bind the two peoples, the two great Republics, to a close
friendship and a perfect understanding. We were conducted back to
the embassy with the same honors as were given us in going to the
palace.

On the 5th, Mr. Loomis, myself, and staff were entertained at a state
luncheon by the French prime minister and Mrs. Rouvier, and at a state
dinner by the minister of marine and Mrs. Thomson. Both entertain-
ments were attended by French officials of high rank, and were of a
character to show that extreme compliment was intended. At the first,
with the exception of the hostess, only gentlemen were present, while
at the latter ladies were also present. After the luncheon with the
prime minister on the 5th, the whole party was invited to visit the
municipal council at the Hotel de Ville, where we were received on
behalf of the people of Paris. We were accompanied by L,ieutenant
Andre, ordnance officer of the minister of marine. We were received
by M. Paul Brousse, president of the municipal council and of the gen-
eral council; by M. Antrand, secretary-general of the prefecture of the
Seine, and M. Laurent, secretary-general of the prefecture of police.
Short addresses of welcome were made by the president of the municipal
council, and by the secretary-general of the prefecture of the Seine, in
behalf of his chief, the prefect of the Seine; also by the secretary-
general of the prefecture of police, in the name of the prefect of police.
Responses were made, first by Mr. Loomis, and then by myself. Cham-
pagne was then served, and M. Paul Brousse proposed the health of
President Roosevelt, and Mr. Loomis proposed the health of President
Loubet. Following this entertainment, we were escorted by the various

John Paul Jones Commemoration 105

French gentlemen through the Hotel de Ville, after which we returned
to our quarters.

On the 6th, the day of the formal transfer of the remains of John
Paul Jones at Paris, the landing parties of the \-arious ships were roused
out at about 2 a. m. They took the train for Paris at Cherbourg at
3.30 a. m. They arrived at the station at Paris at 11.40 a. m., where
the party was met by French officials. As to this and subsequent events
connected with the landing party at the transfer, and especially as giv-
ing the names of the French officers and officials concerned, I invite
attention to Inclosure C " of this second report, which inclosure was
obtained for me by the American naval attache at my request. This
memorandum, together with my further report, will serve to show the
magnitude and splendor of our reception at Paris in honor of the United
States and of the purposes of the expedition.

On the 5th the ceremony of transferring the remains of John Paul
Jones took place at 3.30 p. m., at the American Church of the Holy
Trinity, at the avenue de I'Alma, where the casket containing the
remains of John Paul Jones were lying in state, decorated with drapery,
and with a profusion of floral emblems. Admission to the church was
by special invitation and a presentation of cards at the door. Many
could not find entrance. The American sailors and French soldiers were
formed outside of the church, where an artillery caisson, ornamented
with drapery and French and American flags, was also in waiting. As
to the character of the French escort of troops and the officers command-
ing, Inclosure C of this report, already cited, gives adequate informa-
tion. On the right of the central aisle and next the chancel and facing
the chancel were the American representatives; on the left were the
French representatives. \'irtually the whole diplomatic corps was
present, with Ambassador and Mrs. McCormick, General Porter, Mr.
Loomis, United States Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and myself on the
front seat. There were also present General Dubois, representing the
President of France; M. Rouvier, president of the council of ministers
and minister of foreign affairs; M. Berteaux, minister of war; M. Gaston
Thomson, minister of marine; M. Clementel, minister for the colonies;
General Brugere, vice-president of the superior council of war; Vice-
Admiral Fournier, French navy, member of the superior council of the
navy, etc.

A memorial service was conducted by the Rev. John B. Morgan,
assisted by the Rev. M. Van Winkle, M. Mesny, and Doctor Tully.
The services are described in more detail in Inclosure C. At the close
of the church services Gen. Horace Porter made a short address,* trans-
ferring the remains to the second special ambassador, Mr. Loomis. Mr.

a Inclosures A and B omitted. For Inclosures C, D, E, and F, see Appendix.—
Compiler.
6 See p. 73.

io6 Papers and Reports

lyoomis then read an address of considerable length, ending by trans-
ferring the remains formally to my charge. A copy of Mr. Loomis's
address is hereto appended, marked " Inclosure D." Thereupon I read
a short address, accepting the custody of the remains on behalf of the
United States Navy Department and taking over further responsibility.
A copy is appended, marked "Inclosure E." This ended the ceremony
within the church.

I had previously detailed as body bearers four petty oflScers from each
ship of my command, each over 6 feet in stature. The body bearers
placed the casket on a wheeled truck, conducted it to the street and
there placed it on the caisson. The procession was then formed. With
the exception of the artillery and cavalry, all were on foot ; that is to
say, there were no carriages. The absence of carriages was intended as
an additional mark of respect and courtesy. Even a few ladies, presum-
ably the wives of dignitaries, were in the procession. There were no
French sailors present. Therefore our blue jackets were put in com-
parison with the flower of the French soldiery, and, as we always find,
our men looked businesslike and bore themselves thoroughly well,
although they had no opportunity to land at Cherbourg and have pre-
liminary drills for the occasion. Moreover, they had landed from coal-
ing ship, and had been almost without sleep, and with but scant oppor-
tunity to prepare themselves immediately for the occasion. Many
photographs have been taken of the procession. All show creditable
performance on the part of the American blue jackets. The procession
proceeded along the avenue de I'Alma and the avenue des Champs Elj-
sees, thence through the Champs Elysees, across the Pont Alexandre
III, through the Esplanade des Invalides to the Rue de Constantine,
where, opposite the H6tel des Invalides, in which the remains of Napo-
leon I repose, a highly decorated pavilion had been erected. In the
central front of the pavilion was a bier. The casket was removed from
the caisson by the American body bearers and placed on the bier. Dis-
tinguished civilians and officers, French and American, took position in
front of the pavilion, after which the whole military and naval proces-
sion marched past, the American sailors leading and followed hy the
French infantry, artillery, and cavalry, in the order named, the officers
saluting as they passed the pavilion. The cavalry went past on the
trot. It was a most beautiful and impressive sight, the most distin-
guished, I was informed by M. Rouvier, that had been seen in Paris of
recent years. After the march past, the French civilians and French
officers took leave of the Americans at the pavilion, with much kindh-
exchange of sentiment and good will. Then the casket was replaced on
the caisson by the American body bearers and escorted to the railroad
.station, only a few yards distant, where the casket was again taken from
the caisson and conveyed to the car in waiting. The car was locked

John Paul J o 7i e s Commemoration 107

and sealed. A guard of American sailors was placed over the car, after
which the American officers dispersed and proceeded to their quarters,
and the blue jackets were marched again to the Ek;ole Militaire, where
they were again most courteously received and provided with dinner.
The oflScers accompanying the landing party were provided with meals
at the Cercle Militaire.

At 9. 10 p. m. the landing party of bluejackets left Paris in the same
train with the remains of John Paul Jones. They arrived at Cherbourg
the following morning. At Cherbourg a pavilion had been prepared
and ornamented on the large commercial quay. Therein the remains of
John Paul Jones were deposited, under a continuous guard of sixteen
French sailors and sixteen American sailors, to await further ceremonies,
all arrangements having been made by Vice- Admiral Besson, Rear-
Admiral Leygue, and the Mayor of Cherbourg, with the assistance of
interested and sympathizing citizens, and the chef de gare. I remained
behind, at Paris, with Mr. Loomis and my full staff of officers. That
evening, the 6th, our whole party was entertained at a great dinner, in
conjunction with a distinguished party of French people, at the Ameri-
can embassy, by Ambassador and Mrs. McCormick. On the 7th the
whole party, together with the American ambassador and General
Porter, lunched with President Loubet. The entertainment was of the
same magnificent order as those which had been given by French offi-
cials. Ladies, as well as gentlemen, were present. After the luncheon,
we took final leave of President Loubet and the members of his minis-
try, and others. That night I dined with Mr. Loomis and some mutual
friends, and I left before the dinner was ended for the railroad station.
The naval officers left for Cherbourg at 9.10 p. m., on the 7th. Mr.
Loomis accompanied me to my carriage, and I think we were mutually
gratified that every event had passed off without error worthy of men-
tion, although we had been pressed to carry out all details precisely in
the short period of time allowed us.

General Porter had gone to Cherbourg on the 6th [7th] . In advance,
I sent orders to the senior American naval officer present at Cherbourg
to meet General Porter at the train, escort him to his steamer and give
him the salute for an ambassador, and to show him all honors. I am
informed that my instructions were carried out and were appreciated by
General Porter. I had taken it upon myself to urge General Porter to
return to the United States on board the Brooklyn, as my guest. General
Porter, while expressing much pleasure at receiving the invitation,
felt obliged to decline, to my great disappointment. I also invited
Mr. Loomis to return to the United States on board the Brooklyn. Mr.
Loomis also expressed his appreciation of my wish to take him as my
guest, and explained that he was obliged to remain for some time longer
in Europe.

io8 Papers and Reports

The party of American officers arrived back at Cherbourg at 6 a. m.
on the morning of the 8th. At i o'clock on the 8th I sent a landing
party ashore, under arms, where there were also assembled French sol-
diers and sailors, under arms, at the pavilion on the commercial quay.
The quay, all along its great length, was decorated with French and
American flags in alternation. Alongside the quay was the French
torpedo-boat Zouave. On the quay, and within the highly decorated
pavilion, was the casket containing the remains of John Paul Jones.
French and American flags were everywhere, and the Zouave was also
specially prepared and dressed. At 1.30 p. m. I proceeded to the shore,
where I met Vice- Admiral Besson and Rear- Admiral Leygue, with
whom all arrangements had been made previously. The soldiers and
sailors were drawn up in line near the pavilion, where the French and
American officers were assembled. Vice- Admiral Besson then read a
short address, a copy of which I append, marked " Inclosure F." I
had intended to reply extemporaneously in the event that Admiral Bes-
son made an address, but the admiral immediately gave the order to
proceed with the ceremonies, so I withheld my response and contented
myself with shaking hands with Admiral Besson and thanking him and
his assistants for the many courtesies that we had received, especially
for those under his immediate direction. I think the admiral was
prompted by a desire to expedite the ceremonies in order to facilitate the
close of my business affairs within the short period of time remaining
to me.

The casket was then carried to the Zouave by the American body
bearers. The Zouave cast off from the quay and moved out slowly into
the harbor. A column of French pulling boats formed on the port
quarter of the Zouave and a column of American pulling boats on the
starboard quarter of the Zouave. Each column was led by the barges of
the admirals of the respective nationalities. The landing party left the
quay later and proceeded to their ships. In the order stated, the Zoiiave
proceeded slowly to the Brooklyn. It was a very beautiful and impress-
ive sight. The quay was thronged with people and great interest was
shown. The Zouave went alongside the starboard side of the Brooklyn.
The rails of the various ships were manned, and all flags were at half-
mast. When the Zouave left the quay, the flagship of Rear-Admiral
lycygue began a salute of 15 minute guns. That number of guns was
fired at my instance, because Mr. lyoomis in his address had named John
Paul Jones as vice-admiral. The French salute at Paris had corre-
sponded with that rank. When the French flagship Bouvines had
finished her salute, and after a short interval, the Brookly7i also fired a
salute of 15 minute guns. The French officers from the procession of
boats came on board the Brooklyn over the port side. The casket was
hoisted on board, prayers were read by Chaplain Bayard, of the Brooklyn,

John Paul fones C o m m e m o r a t i o 7i 109

and the casket was then lowered to the gun deck and deposited on the
bier and under the canopy erected immediately outside of the entrance
to the flag cabin.

With fine tact, Admiral Besson and the French officers declined to
proceed to my cabin, Admiral Besson stating that he knew the pressure
upon me to close my business and get to sea at the time stated. After
much exchange of courtesy on the part of the French officers — civil,
railitarj', and naval — the French party took their leave. Near by was a
French steamer, with passengers. Among the passengers was Admiral
Besson' s daughter, who had interested herself deeply in the ceremonies
and had presented a floral emblem and had also arranged the flowers
with her own hands on the casket of John Paul Jones.

Before proceeding further, I should state that while I was absent at
Paris on the 4th of July Vice- Admiral Besson gave a garden party at the
arsenal to the officers of the squadron. This was largely attended by
civil, military, and naval officers and their families. One hundred and
twenty of the enlisted men were entertained at a banquet and by a visit
to the exposition by the mayor of Cherbourg. The warrant and chief
petty officers of the French army and nav3^ through a committee, enter-
tained at lunch the American warrant and chief petty officers of the
squadron, and the enlisted men of the French army and navy entertained
the enlisted men of the fleet at luncheon.

On the Fourth of July the public buildings were decorated with French
and American flags. The landing and esplanade were profusely deco-
rated with French and American flags alternating. There was a brilliant
electric illumination of the French and American ships, and a water
carnival at night in honor of the American squadron.

On the 6th instant Rear- Admiral Leygue entertained the senior offi-
cer and one other officer from each of the American ships at luncheon.
On the evening of the same day the senior officers of the American ships
were entertained at dinner by Colonel de Grandprey, directeur de gdnie.

On the 7th the wardroom officers of the Bouvines entertained the
wardroom officers of the Brookly^i.

Our consular agent, M. Henri Haineville, was unremitting in his
efforts to assist in every way.

By the courtesy of M. I^e Pont, the chapel where the body of John
Paul Jones rested until it was transferred to the ship was constructed
in his own building on the quay. Captains d'Andrezelle and CoUard,
of Vice-Admiral Besson's staff, gave much time and attention to per-
fecting times and arrangements on shore, while Admiral I^eygue and
his aid were equally assiduous in arranging for those afloat. The chef
de la gare at Cherbourg was conspicuously zealous in respect to all
matters connected with the railroad and the transportation of the remains.
Captain d'Abeville, director of the port, visited the Brooklyn and offered

no Papers and Reports

us the facilities of water lighters, etc. Through his good offices the
squadron was furnished with all the water required. In celebrating
the Fourth of July all the French officers — civil, military, and naval —
left nothing undone to show their hearty good will. Owing to the
limited stay of the squadron in port, together with the preparations for
sea and the absence of officers and men, it was impossible to return the
courtesies extended to the squadron excepting by verbal expression. A
projected entertainment on board the Brooklyn was made impracticable
by reason of the requirements of the Navy Department in connection with
the death of Mr. Hay. Our limitations were thoroughly understood
by the French authorities; but, nevertheless, it was a great regret to
ourselves.

At 5.30 p. m. on the 8th our squadron put to sea. When passing
the division of French ships we manned the side and gave three hearty
cheers, which were returned. I then repeated our national salute to the
French flag, which was returned by the Bouvines. When we were in
the offing the French fleet put to sea also and shaped its course for
Brest.

I close this part of my report by informing the Department that late
on the afternoon of the 7th a representative of President I,oubet arrived
at my hotel and presented to me, and to the four commanding officers
of my ships, and to Lieutentant-Commander George, who commanded
the landing party at Paris, the cross of the Legion of Honor. To me
the President presented the cross of commander of the Legion of
Honor and to the others the cross of officer of the Legion of Honor.
Mr. Loomis had been presented with the cross of the Legion of Honor
on a former visit to Paris. I accepted the decorations provisionally,
and as tactfully as possible, and later will bring the matter formally and
individually, before the Navy Department.

Our reception in France was a most notable one, by reason of its com-
pleteness and scope, as well as by its magnificence. It was the evident
intention to strengthen the cordial relations between France and the
United States by taking advantage of incidents in our joint histor>-,
namely, the French- American exploits of John Paul Jones. It is grati-
fying to me personally, as commander in chief of the naval expedition,
that all vevents passed off with credit for the American side. I am
informed that this is the only occasion when a large body of foreign
armed men has been permitted to parade in the streets of Paris in time
of peace — that is to say, when not active allies engaged in war.

PART III

My squadron took its departure from Cherbourg at 5.30 p. m. on the
8th of July. A speed of 1 1 knots was set. Later, in heavy seas, the
speed was reduced to 10 knots. It was afterwards restored to n knots
in order to take every advantage of smooth weather.

John Paul 1 71 e s Commemoration in

We had considerable misty and foggy weather. When south of
Georges Bank, we were unable to get in communication with the shore
by wireless because of atmospheric conditions, and at one time because
of a defect in our wires. When about 30 or 40 miles from Nantucket
light-ship we tried for a long time to get in communication with the
light-ship, but there was very much interference by other vessels. How-
ever, I managed to get the following message to the Nantucket light-ship;

Report to Navy Department Paul Jones Squadron is off Nantucket light-ship and
is due at Chesapeake entrance early forenoon of Saturday. No stops needed on
passage. All well.

The Nantucket light-ship informed me that because of heavy inter-
ference they could not get my message through to Newport, but they
promised to put it through later, as promptly as possible. We were up
to the light-ship and sighted it at 8.30 p. m. on the 20th.

From Nantucket light-ship I shaped a straight course for a point 12
miles east of Cape Charles light-ship.

On the morning of the 21st we sighted the Maine, Rear- Admiral
Evans's flagship, to the southward, and I was directed by Admiral Evans
to form column on the Maine. This was done. Later one vessel after
another of the first division of the North Atlantic Fleet joined, and the
two divisions were formed into column, natural order, and proceeded on
their course to Cape Henry. L,ate in the afternoon Rear- Admiral Davis
joined with the second division of the North Atlantic Fleet. The second
division joined the column astern of the third division ; that is to say,
the division under my command. I informed Admiral Evans of the
nature of my orders, and that I was expected by the Navy Department
to arrive at the capes early on the forenoon of the 22d, Saturday. The
speed was set at 1 1 knots ; distance, 300 yards.

There were eleven vessels in column, and in the following order :

First division —

Maine; flag of the commander in chief.

Missouri.

Kentucky.

Kearsarge.
Third division —

Broolilyn; flag of Rear-Admiral Sigsbee.

Galveston.

Taconia.

Chattanooga.
Second division —

Alabama; flag of Rear-Admiral Davis.

Illinois.

Massachusetts.

I informed Admiral Evans, by signal, that I had been instructed by
the Navy Department to communicate at Cape Henry, and asked him

112 Papers and Reports

if he would communicate for me. Admiral Evans replied that he would
communicate and that any messages that I had to send should be sent
through him. The Iowa joined us off Cape Henry.

Off the entrance to Chesapeake Bay the Mahie took a pilot and the
column entered the bay. Inside Cape Henry the first division, under
Admiral Evans, left the column and directed me to proceed to Annapolis
with the second and third divisions. Admiral Evans stopped his divi-
sion, and as the Brooklyn passed at slow speed each vessel of the first
division fired a salute of 15 minute guns. When the salute was com-
pleted, I re-formed my column, the second division leading, each division
being in natural order. I directed Admiral Davis to lead and pilot up
the bay, speed 10 knots, distance 300 yards. Admiral Evans's division
proceeded to Hampton roads, and when my column was about 9 miles
distant from Admiral Evans's column I half-masted the colors of my
column, but, from the vessels of the third division only, hoisted the
American national ensign at the fore and the French national ensign at
the main.

Although during the whole expedition I had in my division the virtu-
ally untried Galveston, only recently commissioned, and the Tacoma and
Chattanooga, also new vessels, we did not stop on the passage across
nor on the return passage by reason of any defect of the engines or
other mishap. I stopped the column once on the passage to Cherbourg,
as already stated, to transfer some men from the Tacoma to the Brooklyn,
and stopped once on reaching soundings southeast of Nantucket Shoals
in order to get an up-and-down cast with the lead line and a sounding
by wire and sounding tube, in order to compare the depth shown by the
sounding tube with the actual depth shown by the line.

PART IV

On the afternoon of the 2 2d I formed the two divisions of vessels in
double column, distance 400 yards, interval 500 yards, my division on
the left and Rear- Admiral Davis's division on the right, and in this
formation I anchored the squadron below Thomas Point light-house
and out of sight of Annapolis, also distant from Annapolis about 7 miles,
at 7 p. m. The next morning, at half past 8, the squadron was got
under way, and we steamed to Annapolis roads in the same formation.
There we anchored at 9 a. m. in the same formation. We found there
the French cruiser, Jurien de la Gravitre, Captain Gervais. In order to
distinguish my vessels as composing the division connected with the
John Paul Jones expedition I had each of them fly the American ensign
at the fore and the French ensign at the main. Visits were received
and made between the French cruiser and our own vessels.

The next morning, after arrangement with Rear-Admiral Sands, in
which he most considerately provided that I should be in general

John Paid [ones Commemoration 113

command of the cortege on shore, the body of John Paul Jones was landed,
but without great ceremony on the water. At 9 o'clock the Standish
came alongside the Brooklyn. The casket was placed on board, and I
myself, with an escort of officers, went on board the Standish. The
landing party, which included Captain Gervais and a party of ofi&cers
and 50 men from \\i& Jurien de la Graviere, had previously been landed.
The Standish then passed up between the two columns of United States
vessels, while all the vessels fired simultaneously a salute of 15 minute
guns. The Standish then proceeded to the shore, where all arrange-
ments had been made. Commander Nicholson, of the Tacoma, acting
under my direction, arranged the cortege, a.ssisted by Lieutenant Magru-
der, the flag lieutenant of Rear-Admiral Sands. I inclose herewith a
copy of a memorandum provided me by Rear-Admiral Sands, marked
" Inclosure G."" It will serve to show his own admirable arrangements.
Lieutenant-Commander George commanded the landing party from my
vessels.

A temporarj^ pavilion had been erected on the sea wall inside of the
artificial basin. The casket was placed in a hearse and the cortege
moved to the open ground in front of Blake row, where the different
parties of men were disposed as provided for by Admiral Sands. In the
center of the grassy space on which Blake row fronts a temporary and verj'
appropriate brick vault had been erected. The casket was removed
from the hearse and placed in the vault. The vault was then locked up
and a company of marines fired three volleys, and a bugler sounded
taps. I then thanked Admiral Sands and said that my duties were
ended so far as I knew and subject only to anj^ further orders he might
have for me. Admiral Sands had no further orders to give me. The
senior officers then proceeded to the residence of Rear-Admiral Sands,
where luncheon was served. Other officers — and French officers were
included in both cases — were entertained at the officers' mess.

After thanking Admiral Davis for his services I informed him that
he was free to rejoin the flag of the commander in chief at Hampton
roads. We then returned to our ships in Annapolis roads. Admiral
Davis got his division under way at 1.30 p. m. on the 24th, the day of
the ceremonies, and proceeded to Hampton roads.

That evening I entertained the captain and a delegation of officers
from the Jurien de la Graviere at dinner on board my flagship. They
returned to their ship at 10.45 P- "i- At 11. 15 p. m. I got the third
division under way and proceeded down the bay for Tompkinsville. We
passed out of the bay at about 9 a. m. , and soon thereafter set a speed
of II knots for the third division.

Perhaps I should mention that on the casket of John Paul Jones, when
it was landed at Annapolis, I placed his sword, lent me for that purpose

« Not printed. — CoMPHER.
7257—07 8

114 Papers and Reports

by Commander Nicholson, of the Tacoma. The sword had been passed
down through various channels until it finally reached Commander
Nicholson's father, Commodore Nicholson, U. S. Navy, by whom it was
passed down to Commander Nicholson himself.

I beg to state that, notwithstanding various difficulties presented them-
selves from time to time during the expedition, all events passed off
with great smoothness and harmony. Officers and men bore themselves
with high credit to the service.

The third division anchored at Tompkinsville at 11.45 a. m. July 26.
Very respectfully,

C. D. SiGSBEE,
Rear- Admiral, U. S. Navy, Co-niinander in Chief.
The Secretary of the Navy,

Navy Department, Washington, D. C.

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III. LETTERS OF JOHN PAUL JONES

PETITION FOR ADMISSION AS A MASON"

[From the original at St. Mary's Isle.]

To the WorshipfuU , the Master, Wardens & Permanent Brethren of free
and accepted Masons of the Lodge of St. Bernard held at Kirkcud-
bright.

The Petition of John Paul, Commander of the John, of Kirkendal,
Humbly Sheweth

That your Petitioner, for a considerable time by-past, liaith enter-
tained a strong and sincere Regaird for your most noble, Honourable,
and Ancient Society of Free and Accepted Masons, but Hitherto not
meeting with reasonable opportunity Do now most Humbly crave the
benefit of Receiving and Admitting me Into your fraternity as an Entered
apprentice, promising, assuring and engaidging to you That I shall on
all Rules and Orders of your I,odge be most obsequient and observant.
That I shall in all things Deport, behave, and act answerable to the
Laws and Instructions of the lyodge, and in every thing to which I
may be made lyable, promising faithful obedience.

The complyance of your Right Worshipfull Wardens and rest of the
Brethren will singularly oblidge and very much Honour, Right Worship-
full, your most Humble Petitioner and most Humble servant.

Jno. PAUt.

I do attest the Petitioner to be a good man and a person whom I have
no doubt will in due time become a worthy Brother.

James Smith.

oThis paper is not dated. It appears in the appended chronology that John Paul
commanded VtKtJohn in 1770 and that he was entered as a Mason at Kirkcudbright
November 27, 1770.— Compiler.

"5

LETTER TO JOSEPH HEWES

[From autograph draft in the library of Congress.]

[Alfred, New London, April z/, 1776. \
When I undertook to write you an account of our proceedings in
the Fleet I did not imagine that I should have been so stinted in
point of time — I owed j-ou a much earlier account but since our arrival
here the repairs and Business of the ship has required my Constant
attention — I will endeavour to be more punctual hereafter — in the mean-
while hope you will excuse this omission 'till I can account for it per-
sonally. I pass over what was prior to our arrival at the Capes of
Delaware — where we were met by the Hornet sloop & Wasp schooner
from ^^laryland. On the 17th of Feby the Fleet put to sea with a smart
North East Wind, In the Night of the nineteenth (the Gale having
Increased) we lost Company with the Hornet and Fly Tender. We
steered to the Southward 's\'ithout seeing a single sail or meeting with
anything remarkable 'till the first of Jvlarch, when we anchored at Abaco
(one of the Bahamia Islands) having previously brought too a Couple of
New Providence sloops to take pilots out of them. By these people we
were informed that there was a large Quantity of Powder with a Num-
ber of Cannon in the two Forts of New Providence. In Consequence of
this Intelligence the Marines and Landsmen to the number of 300 and
upwards under the comm"* of Capt° Nicholas were embarked in the two
sloops. It was determined that they should keep below Deck 'till the
sloops were got in Close to the Fort — and they were then to land
Instantly & take possession before the Island could be alarmed. This,
however, was rendered abortive, as the Forts Fired an alarm on the
approach of our Fleet. We then ran in and anchored at a small Key 3
leagues to windward of the Town and from thence the Commodore dis-
patched the marines with the sloop Providence and schooner Wasp to
Cover their Landing. They landed without opposition and soon took
possession of the Eastern Garrison Ft. ^Montague which (after Firing a
few shot) the Islanders abandoned. The Next morning the Marines
marched for the Town and were met by a messenger from the Gov' who
told Capt" Nicholas that "the western Garrison (Ft. Nassau) was ready
for his reception and that he might march his Force in as soon as he
pleased." This was effected without firing a gun on our Side — but the
Gov"' had sent off 150 barrels of Powder the Night before. Inclosed you
have an Inventory of the Cannon, stores &c which we found, took

117

ii8 Letters

Possession of, and brought off in the Fleet. We Continued at N. Provi-
dence till 17'" ulto and then bro't off the Gov"' and two more Gent"
Prisoners. Our Course was now directed back for the Continent and
after meeting with much bad weather on the 5"" Inst off Block Island
we took one of Capt. Wallace's Tenders the Hawke schooner of 6 guns —
and the Bomb Brig Bolton of 8 guns & 2 Howitzers &c the Next morn^
we fell in with the Glasgow man of war and a Hot Engagement Ensued —
the particulars of which I cannot communicate better than by extracting
the minutes which I entered in the Alfred' s I^og Book as Follows —

At 2 A. M. cleared ship for Action. At J4 past do. the Cabot being
between us and the Enemy, began to Engage and soon after we did
the same, and maintained the Action 5 Glasses; at the third Glass the
enemy bore away, and by crowding sail at length got a considerable way
ahead made Signals for the rest of y° English Fleet at Rhoad Island to
come to her Assistance & steered directly for the Harbour. The Com-
modore then thought it Imprudent to Risque our Prizes &c by Pursuing
further therefore to Prevent our being decoyed into their hands at J^
past 6 made the signal to leave off Chace & hauld by the Wind to Join
our Prizes. The Cabott, Capt. Jno. Hopkins, was Disabled at the 2^
broadside. The Capt being dangerously Wounded; the Mate and sev-
eral Men killed — the Enemy's whole Fire was then directed at us and
an unlucky shot having carried away our Wheel Block & Ropes, the
Ship broached too and this gave the Enemy opportunity of Raking us
with several Broadsides before we were again in Condition to steer the
Ship and Return the Fire. In the Action we Received several shot
under Water which made the Ship very Eeaky. We had besides the
Mainmast shot thro' and the Upperworks and Rigging very considerably
damaged. Yett it is surprising that we only lost the 2d Eieut of
Marines & 4 Men, one of whom, a Midshipman Prisoner ("Martin
Gillinwater ' ' ) who was in the Cockpitt and had been taken in the Bomb
Brig Bolton Yesterday. We had no more than three men dangerously
& 4 slightly wounded.

I leave you to make the natural comments arising from this.

I have the pleasure of assuring you that the Comm' in Chief is
respected thro' the Fleet, and I verily believe that the officers and men
in general would go any length to execute his orders. It is with pain
that I Confine this plaudit to an individual — I should be happy in extend-
ing it to every Captain and oflBcer in the service — Praise is certainl}- due
to some — but alas! there are Exceptions: it is certainly for the Interest
of the service that a cordial interchange of civilities should subsist
between Superiour and Inferiour Officers — and therefore it is bad policy
in Superiours to behave towards their inferiours indiscriminately as tho'
they were of a lower species. Men of liberal Alinds who have been long
accustomed to Command, can ill brook being thus set at nought by

John Paul Jones Com?nemoration 119

others who pretend to Claim the monopoly of com. sense. — the rude
ungentle treatment which they experience creates such heartburnings as
are no wise consonant with, that cheerful ardour and spirit which ought
ever to be the characteristick of an OflScer, and therefore whoever thinks
himself hearty in the ser^ace is vvidel}' mistaken when he adopts such a
line of conduct in order to prove it — for to be well obeyed it is necessary
to be esteemed. The Fleet having been reinforced with 200 men lent
from the Army is now in condition for another Enterprize and we expect
to embrace the first wind for Rhode Island when I hope we shall meet
with better success as we understand that the Scarborough is now there —
it is Proposed to clear the Ships at Rhode Island or Providence so that
our detention there will admit of a return of letters from Philadelphia —
meantime with a grateful sense of past favors I have the honor to be with
much Esteem

Sir Your very obliged most humble servant,

[Jno. p. Jones. J

[Endorsements.]

B. Alfred, New Eondon, J. H[ewes] 14th April 1776.

C. EV. Memorandum of the Engagement with the Glasgow.
In pencil: "No. i The Glasgow."

Jones.

C.VPT

Jon I', s .

r,

From orig:inal in British jMuseuta.

LETTER TO ROBERT MORRIS

[From autograph draft in the I^ibrary of Congress.]

Providence, at Sea ^th Sepf,, 1776.
Honoured Sir. I herewith inclose for your inspection all the letters
and papers which I found in the Brigantine Sea Nymph — for the
particulars of my Cruise hitherto I must beg leave to refer you to
the within open letter to the Marine Board which please to lay before
them. I purpose to stand to the southward in hopes of falling in with
some ships which I understand are now on their Passage from Barbados —
but at this late season my success is very uncertain — I will, however,
ply about in this meridian as long as I think I have any chance and if I
fail at last I can run to the northward and try for better success among
the Fishermen which may answer no bad purpose by increasing the
Number of our seamen — however my cruise may terminate. I forgot
not the singular obligation I wrote to Mr. Morris who promoted it for
my honor and advantage and I esteem the Honour done me by his
accepting my Correspondence as the greatest favour I could have aspired
to. I conclude that Mr. Hewes hath acquainted you with a ver\' great
misfortune which befel me some years ago and which brought me into
No. America, the best man may soon become equally or far more unfor-
tunate, therefore you will spare me the pain of repeating it here. 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 Reason to bear them well. I will
from time to time carefully communicate to you every intelligence in
my Power — and now ' ' as the regulations of the Navy ' ' are of the utmost
Consequence you will not think it presumptions if with the utmost diffi-
dence I venture to communicate to )'ou such hints as in my judgment
will promote its Honour and good Government — I could heartily wish
that every Commission Officer were to be previously examined — for, to
my certain knowledge there are persons who have already crept into
Commission — without abilities or fit Qualification: I am myself far from
deserving to be excused, — from my 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 laud or marine
officers, is of more consequence to the harmony of the service than hath
generally been imagined, in the British Establishment — an Admiral
ranks with a Genl., a Vice Adml. with a Lieut. Genl., a Rear Admiral
with a Major Genl., a Commodore with a Brigadier Genl., a Captain
with a Colonel, a Master & Comdr with a Lieut. Colonel, a Lieut.
Commanding with a Major, and a Lieutenant in the Navy ranks with a

122 Letters

Captain of Horse, Foot or Marines. I propose not our Enemies as an
example for our Genl imitation, yet as their navy is the best regulated
of any in the world we must in some degree imitate them and aim at
such further improvement as may one day make ours Vie with and
Exceed theirs. Were this Regulation to take place in our Navy it would
prevent numberless disputes and duellings which otherwise will be una-
voidable besides Sir you know very well that marine officers being utterly
unacquainted with Maratime affairs and in those cases unfit persons to
preside at or Compose half the member of a Court Martial. I beg
pardon for this liberty. I thought that such hints might escape your
memory in the Multiplicity of business. I have always understood that
the sentence of a Court Martial when confirmed by a Commander in
Chief is definitive and admitted of no appeal — So from this I must again
recur to English authority in the Case of Eord George G. Sackville who
for disobeying the orders of Prince Ferdinand at the Battle of Minden
was by a Court Martial held at the Horse Guards rendered incapable of
serving afterwards in any Military capacity although his great abilities
were then well known and are generally acknowledged at this day. I
am led into this subject by hearing with astonishment the application
and complaint of the late Capt'' Hazard to the Marine Board after he
had been found "unworthy of Bearing his Commission in the Navj',"
by the undivided voice of a Court Martial where I had the honor to sit
as a Member. If he was then U7iworthy of bearing his Commission I
cannot see what new merit he can have acquired and even if he had
merit it would not be sound policy to reverse the sentence. It would
make officers stand less in awe and attend less punctually to their duty
and it is not impossible that it might induce future court martials in
some cases to inflict personal punishment from whence there is no appeal.
There was a mistake made in the date of my Commission which unless
you stand my friend will make a material difference when the Navy
Rank is settled — I took command here the tenth day of May as appears
by the order and appointment of the Comr. in Chief on the Back of my
Commission as Eldest lieutenant of the Fleet, and ray Commission as
Captain is not dated 'till the 8th day of August which you know is not
fair as it would subject me to be superseded by Captain Roberson
[Robinson] who was at first my junior officer by six — perhaps it might
subject me to be superseded by others. If I have deserved so ill as to
be superseded I am unworthy of bearing my Commission. I esteem it a
greater disgrace and severer punishment than to be fairly broke and
dismissed the service. I have ordered Mr Hopkins the prize master to
deliver to you a Turtle which please to accept. I have the honor to be
with Greatful Esteem and much respect,

Honoured Sir your very obliged and very Obedient Humble Servt.

J. P- J-
The Honl. Robt. Morris, Esq.

iiol our l.iK-ii' i'- '■■

./y is the best m- ■.; .-iat< i'

.,.,4,4' th'rm atid aim at

\'if ■.'■ith and

set-.-

Cliief IS definitive L.!i.J adHufi^-ia .■■- ;k- ^-pi"---^ ■•" ''"' ^;' ;; -";'^ ^-^ '
recur to Englisli authority :a th. Case of Lora co-.ge C. i>ackA ille who
for disobev". tl.e orde, ., c-f Prn.e F.rd.naud at the Batt.e of- Mnjtej
^.as by a Court Martial held at the Hor^e GuardiJ renc.ercl mcapabk of
' ,ft.;rwurJs -in any Military capacilv aitlioi!«1i 1;> ^Tf^^at :xbi,K;is
...^ -..nwell known aiul are generally a^-fcno^vledK' -i ->' .'m^. Hv,^ 1

.:d into this subject by iieanng with asumisbiue 1. ^ ,-;
' -ompiai"tof the late C.i?i" Hazard to uu^ \-.nnfc lv^s;..
,i ;«Pn found "unworlhy of ikiring his Co...ni=Mmi n, Uic
- ihe ^n>u.^>d voi-c of ? Couix Martial wS;ere 1 had the iio;
'' '-.^Ikt If he was iheti unworthy . '' bearing his Comn
■ '-..A lee^-vdi.i new merit he can have acquired and even if he had

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sit

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V.'Oii

.Id not be slmhi.! policy lo

reverse the sentence. It Aould

■ k-.- <>mcers stand less lu awe and attet.1 ley- puncy.ally to their duty
,.J, ,t ;. not Impossible that it roiyin induce future romt martials m
*me case, to' ^.flict pergonal p-nn^hmetd from .bence there ,s no appeal.

T'.e, _ : ..uiyate made ui the date of my CoT«.nrssion ^vnich aii.es^

voii'frtqno tnv frten.' wHl make a material ditVcreno. vhen the ^avy
p / iS v-Ued-I took coinmand here the tenth day of Al;.y as appears
h.r ih/oider o.v,l appointment oi the Comr. in Chief co the Back of m>-
Co,.^nysvo,. ,is JiMest neutcn£>ry d the Fleet, and my Com.iiss^oT, as
r ' >tani is not dated tip the 8th d^.y of,;..igus1 which -on know is not
fair as it wuuld subject me t^ . be sup. se.-ed by C.pto-^ V^oberson

iinto!

■lU'f-
.1 Uil)'.

[Robi:,soii] who was at first tnv

subject aie to be 'lupers-'-^v >'>■'

te KUpfrt«>vi<' t. I .■.'■' nr-^orth.v r,! ^ ,

greater difcgrac- ■^'-■s -'-Verer piiuiMJiu, ;-

.y.nns^ed the .service 1 bave ordered I

cieiiveT- to you a Turn- which please to ncc^pt

with (ircatful iisteem and nutcb respect,

Honoured ,Sir your ^■ery obhvcd and .erv Obedient Humb. - .^erv,-.

.;., b', ■»! ; '■'•'<• - i* idvht

I y,i. . av--e!V< y so il! ^- to
'. (jcnijission, I esteem '^ -^
nan to l>e fairly broke :nn:
Tbipkins the prize master tr,
I have the hono! to be

T

The Honl. Robt. Mokius. i.sq.

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FACSIMILE OF FIRST PAGE OF LETTER TO COUNTESS OF SELKIRK.
(Scale, two-thirds of original.)

f')

FACSIMILE OF LAST PAGE OF LETTER TO COUNTESS OF SELKIRK.
{Scale, two-thirds of original.)

LETTER TO THE COUNTESS OF SELKIRK

[From the original at St. Mary's Isle.]

Ranger. Brest, 8th May, 1778.

Madam. It cannot be too much lamented that in the profession of
arms, the Officer of fine feelings, and of 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
Action by his Authority.

This hard case was mine, when on the 23rd of April last I landed on
St. Mary's Isle. Knowing I,ord Selkirk's intrest with his King, and
esteeming as I do his private Character, I wished to make him the happy
Instrument of alleviating the horrors 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 m)' inten-
tion to have taken him on board the Ranger, and to have detained him
until thro' 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 Eordship was absent, I
walked back to my Boat, determining to leave the Island: by the waj'
however, some Officers who were with me, could not forbear expressing
their discontent, observing that in America no delicacy was shewn by
the English, who took away all sorts of movable 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 as Volunteers 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 vty own feelifigs by restoring it to you, by such conveyance as
you shall please to direct.

123

124 Letters

Had the Earl been on board the Ranger the following Evening, he
would have seen the awful Pomp and dreadful Carnage of a Sea Engage-
ment: 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 but execrate the Vile Promotors of this
detested War.

For They, t'was They unsheath'd the ruthless blade,
And Heav'n shall ask the'Havock it has made.

The British Ship of War Drake, mounting 20 guns, with more than
her full compliment of Officers and Men, besides a number of Volunteers,
came out from Carrackfergus, in order to attack and take the American
Continental Ship of War Ranger, of 18 Guns, and short of her compli-
ment of Officers and Men. The Ships met, and the advantage was dis-
puted with great Fortitude on each side for an Hour and Five minutes,
when the Gallant Commander of the Drake fell, and Victory declared in
favour of the Ranger. His aimiable Lieutenant lay mortally wounded,
besides near Forty of the inferior Officers and Crew killed and wounded.
A melancholy demonstration of the uncertainty of human prospects ; and
of the sad reverse of Fortune which an Hour can produce. I buryed them
in a spacious Grave, with the Honors due to the Memory of the Brave.

Tho' 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 pur-
suit of Riches. My Fortune is liberal enough, having no Wife nor
Family, and having lived long enough to Know that Riches cannot
insure Happiness. I profess myself a Citizen of the World, totally
unfettered by the little mean distinctions of Climate or of Country, which
diminish the benevolence of the Heart and set bounds to Philantropy.
Before this War began, I had, at an early time of L,ife, withdrawn from the
Sea service, in favour of "calm contemplation and Poetic ease," I have
sacrificed not only my favourite scheme of L,ife, 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 Madam, to use your soft persuasive Arts with
your Husband, to endeavour to stop this Cruel and destructive War, in
which Britain never can succeed. Heaven can never countenance the
barbarous and unmanly Practices of the Britons in America, which Sav-
ages would blush at, and which if not discontinued will soon be retaliated
in 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.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 125

I hope this cruel contest will soon be closed ; but should it continue,
I wage no War with the Fair. I acknowledge their Power, and bend
before it with profound Submission ; let not therefore the Aimable
Countess of Selkirk regard me as an Enemy ; I am ambitious of her
Esteem and Friendship, and would do anything consistent with my duty
to merit it.

The honor of a Eine from your hand in answer to this will lay me
under a very singular Obligation ; and if I can render you any accept-
able service in France, or elsewhere, I hope you see into my character
so far as to command me without the least grain of reserve.

I wish to know exactly the behaviour of my People, as I determine to
punish them if they have exceeded their Eiberty.

I have the Honor to be with much esteem and with profound Respect,
Madam.

Your most obedient and most humble servant.

Jno. p. Jones.

LETTER FROM LORD SELKIRK"

[From the original at St. Mary's Isle.]

Monsieur J. P. Jones,

Capitaine du Vaisseau Americain, Le Rartger, a Brest.

Dumfries, June gth, 1778.

Sir. The letter you wrote to Lady Selkirk of the 8th of May from
Brest, and enclosed to Lord Le Despencer, he was so good as to for-
ward, and it came to hand t'other day, as also it's duplicate by common
post. It was matter of surprise both to my Wife and- to me, as no
apology was expected for your landing from your Privateer at St. Mary's
Isle on the 23rd of April, but as the letter is polite, and 5'ou seem very
anxious for an answer, I shall therefore transmit this unsealed to Lord
Le Despencer, who, as I have the honour to be well acquainted with
him, will I hope excuse my giving him this trouble, and his Lordship,
as Post Master General will judge whether or not it is proper to be
forwarded to you, as a letter by common post would certainly be stopped
at the London Office. Your lamenting the necessity of these things in
the Profession of Arms, and of being obliged to gratify your Officers by
permitting them to go to my house, and carry off some plate, and your
expressing the great sensibility of your feelings at what your heart can-
not approve, are things which we, who have no knowledge of you, nor
your character but by report, can form no proper judgement of, but must
leave to your own Conscience, and to the Almighty Judge of the real
motives of all actions. You certainly are in the right, Sir, in saying
that it was fortunate for Lady Selkirk, that I was from home, as you
intended to carry me off and detain me prisoner, for had that happened,
I dread what might have been its effect on my Wife, then well advanced
in her pregnancy. I own I do not understand how a man of Sensibility
to fine feelings could reconcile this to what his heart approved, espe-
cially as the carrying me off could have no possible effect for the purpose
you mention, which you say was, "knowing my interest with the King,
your intention was to detain me, until through my means, a general and
fair exchange of prisoners, as well in Europe as in America had been
effected," Now Sir nothing can be more erroneous than these ideas, for
I have no interest whatever with the King, and am scarce known to
him, being very seldom in London, scarce six months in whole, during
these last one and twenty years. With regard to the King's Ministers,
I neither have nor can have any interest with them, as I have generally

"This letter was inclosed to Lord Despencer and by him returned to Ivord
Selkirk. — Compii<ER.

127

128 Letters

disapproved of most of their measures, and in particular of almost their
whole conduct in the unhappy and illjudged American War. And as to
a general exchange of Prisoners being effected through my means, I am
altogether at a loss how any man of sense could entertain such an Idea.
I am neither a Military nor a Ministerial man. I neither have nor ever
had a Ministerial Office, Imployment, or Pension, nor any connection
with Administration, nor am I in Parliament, and except having the
disadvantage of a useless Scotch Title, I am in all respects as much a
Private Country Gentleman, as any one can be, living a retired life in
the country, and engaging in no factions whatever. How then would
it have been possible for such a man to effect a general exchange of
Prisoners? when so many men of great Power and Influence in both
Houses of Parliament have not been able to bring it about. You must
therefore be sensible on reflection Sir, that you proceeded on a very
improper and mistaken notion, and that had your attempt succeeded,
it's only effect would have been to distress a family that never injured
any person, and whose wishes have certainly been very friendly to the
Constitutions and Just Liberties of America. You exclaim on the bar-
barities committed in America, and say they will be retaliated in Britain
if not discontinued, I have always been extremely sorry at the accounts
of these things, no man can be a greater enemy to all ungenerous
inhumanities in War than I am. God knows best which side began
those things, and which has most to account for, but it is certainly the
general opinion in Britain, that the Americans began the unusual and
cruel practice complained of, and first against their own country men
who adhered to the British Government. In your letter you profess
yourself a Citizen of the World, and that j'ou have drawn your Sword "
in support of the Rights of Man, yet you say you are not in arms as an
American, nor in pursuit of Riches. If you are not in anas as an
American, I do not understand in what character you act, and unless
you have an American Commission, I doubt the L,aws of War and of
Nations would not be very favourable to you as a citizen of the World,
which however ought to be a very honourable character, and you will
do well to endeavour to act up to the humanity and honour of it. Con-
sider then Sir, the impropriety and danger to the common Interests, and
happiness of Society, in your departing from the established and usual
practice of Modern War. Nothing does more honour to Mankind, than
the generous humanity and mildness introduced in War of late ages,
through all the best civilized parts of Europe, and it's violation is always
disapproved of and generally resented by the Ministers of every State.
I am therefore pursuaded that neither the French Government nor the
Congress would have countenanced your carrying me off, nor would
have permitted me to be detained. Their own coasts are as much
exposed to such enterprises as our's, and they will not wish to intro-
duce such things into the practice of War, as can have no effect

John Paul Jones Commemoration 129

upon the great and general operations of it, but would only add to its
calamities. It was certainly fortunate both for L,ady Selkirk and me,
that I was from home, and it was also fortunate for yoVi Sir, that your
Officers and Men behaved well, for had any of my family suffered out-
rage, murder or violence, no quarter of the Globe should have secured
you nor even some of those under whose commission you act, from my
vengeance. But Sir, I am happy that their welfare enables me to inform
you, that the Orders you mention in your letter were punctually obeyed
by your two Officers and Men, who in every respect behaved as well as
could be expected on such an occasion. All the men remained on the
outside of the house, were civil, and did no injury, the two officers
alone came within, and behaved with civility, and we were all sorry to
hear afterwards that the younger officer in green uniform was killed in
your engagement with the Drake, for he in particular showed so much
civility, and so apparent a dislike at the bussiness he was then on, that
it is surprising how he should have been one of the proposers of it.
What you mention is certainly so, that some of the Plate was left, but
that was contrary to L,ady Selkirk intention and to her orders, but
happened partly by accident, confusion and hurry, and partly by the
improper inclinations of some servants, for which they were severely
reprimanded afterwards. So much was it countrary to Lady Selkirk's
intentions, that she, having met a servant carrying some Plate out of
the way, ordered it instantly to be taken back and given up, and indeed
her giving the inventory along with it, tho' not asked for, proves that
she meant it all to go, as the inventory would only serve to show, what
she would not have inclined to be known, had she intended or beheved
any was left, and indeed had your Officers taken time to examine it,
they would have got all, by means of the inventory, but the only thing
they observed wanting was a tea pot and coffee pot, and on mentioning
it, the .ser^-ant immediately brought them. This circumstance however,
proves also what I have pleasure in acknowledging, that your Officers
obeyed your orders in making no search, for which Sir you are entitled
to our thanks and I most wilhngly give them. Tho' you say nothing
improper about what was left, nor can Lady Selkirk be thought at all
accountable for it, yet she chuses these things to be mentioned, as she
said to your Officers she believed it was all dehvered, and she would be
sorry if any person whatever should believe her capable of deceit. The
little Plate that was left, will seem greater by the inventory than it was
in reality, for the six candle sticks left, two are of a very small old
fashioned kind, that belonged to Lady Selkirk's Grandmother, and are
not one third of the weight of those now in fashion, the other two are
little flat trifles, made exceeding small, for the purpose of standing in a
cabinet for the purpose of sealing letters, the tea spoons and also some
spoons of an inferior make, used at the housekeeper's table, by not
7257—07 9

130 Letters

being keeped in the Butler's Pantry were forgot, together with some
other very small things of little value, all the large things left were of
the Birmingham plated kind. Your genteel offer Sir, of returning the
Plate is very polite but at the same time neither Lady Selkirk nor I can
think of accepting of it, as you must purchase it you say for that pur-
pose, but if your delicacy makes you unwilling to keep that share of its
value which as Captain you are entitled to, without purchasing, I would
in that case wish that part to be given to those private men who were on
the party, as an encouragement for their good behaviour. You Sir,
are intitled to what is more honorable, viz: The Praise of having your
men under good discipline, which on all occasions I take care to make
known. There is one thing not so agreeable, as it must put me to con-
siderable inconvenience, it seems the people you sent away from the
Ranger, after taking the Drake, have reported, that you have said, " You
were still determined to take me Prisoner, and would do so within a few
months." As to my own personal danger, I have no apprehension
about it, but Justice to my Wife and Children makes it necessary to
remove myself and family to a more inland situation. Thus your
illjudged and useless intention whilst it can do no good to you, nor be
of any service to those in captivity, serves only to deprive my family
and me of our country residence. "Were there anything in my power
for the procuring of an exchange of Prisoners, God knows I would
most willingly do it, for I all along thought the refusing it both unjust
and an impolitic measure, and which I still think will prove useless and
will have to be departed from. Though your letter is wrote like a man
who means well, and who wishes to be considered a man of honour, yet
some people in this Country who say they know you, (tho' I do not
think it certain you are the person they mean) laugh at j'our saying you
are not in pursuit of Riches, and at your intention of taking me for the
purpose of a general exchange of Prisoners. They sa}' your design
must have been a Ransom, and that your offer of returning the Plate
is only a snare, to put me off my guard. But as I chanced to be entirely
ignorant of you and your character, till your enterprise on the 23rd of
April, I have therefore nothing certain to judge by but 5^our behaviour,
then, and since, and as that has in so far as regarded my Family, been
genteel, and though your intention of taking me was certainly absurd,
yet as it was so from mistake I therefore will not allow mj^self to think
with those people, that a man who professes honorable sentiments, and
is acting under an honorable commission for what he thinks is support-
ing the Rights of Mankind, would for the sake of a pitiful Ransom
degrade himself to the low and vile character of a Barbary Pirate,
which would be the case if these people were right in the opinion they
give, but I chuse to judge more favourably of you, and am Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

Selkirk.

LETTER FROM LORD SELKIRK

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RETURN OF SILVER

[From contemporary copy in I^ibrary of Congress.]

London, /M August, 178^.
Sir. I received the letter you wrote to me, at the time you sent off
vay plate, in order for restoring it. Had I known where to direct a
letter to you at the time it arrived in Scotland, I would have then
wrote to you, but not knowing it, nor finding that any of my acquaint-
ance at Edinburgh knew it, I was obliged to delay writing till I came
here, when by means of a gentleman connected with America, I was told
Mr Le Grand was your banker at Paris, and would take proper care of a
letter for you, therefore I inclose this to him. Notwithstanding all the
precautions you took for the easy and uninterrupted conveyance of the
plate, yet it met with considerable delays, first at Calais, next at Dover,
then at London. However it at last arrived at Dumfries, and I daresay
quite safe, though as yet I have not seen it, being then at Edinburgh.
I intended to have put an article in the newspapers about your having
returned it, but before I was informed of its being arrived, some of your
friends, I suppose, had put it in the Dumfries newspaper, whence it was
immediately copied into the Edinburgh papers, and thence into the Lon-
don ones. Since that time I have mentioned it to many people of fash-
ion, and on all occasions, Sir, both now and formerly, I have done 3'ou
the justice to tell, that 3'ou made an offer of returning the plate, very
soon after your return to Brest, and although you, j'ourself was not at
my house, but remaining at the shore with your boat, that yet )'ou had
your officers and men in such extraordinary good discipline, that you
having given them the strictest orders to behave well, to do no injury of
any kind, to make no search, but only to bring off what plate was given
them, that in reality they did exactly as ordered, and that not one man
offered to stir from his post on the outside of the house, nor entered the
doors, nor said an uncivil word, that the two officers stood not a quarter
of an hour in the parlour and butler's pantrj', while the butler got the
plate together, behaved politely, and asked for nothing but the plate,
and instantly marched their men off in regular order, and that both
officers and men behaved in all respects so well that it would have done

131

132 Letters

credit to the best disciplined troops what ever. Some of the English,
newspapers at that time having put in confused accounts of your expe-
dition to Whitehaven, and Scotland, I ordered a proper one of what
happened in Scotland, to be put in the London newspapers by a gentle-
man who was then at my house, by which the good conduct and civil
behaviour of your of&cers and men was done justice to, and attributed
to your orders, and the good discipline you maintained over your people.
I am. Sir, Your most humble servant,

Selkirk.

REPORT OF JOHN PAUL JONES

CRUISE OF THE U. S. SHIP RANGER AND CAPTURE OF
H. B. M. S. DRAKE

l^From the original draft in John Paul Jones's letter-book at U. S. Naval Academy.]

Brest, Jl/ov 2j, 1778.

Gentlemen, I now fulfil the promise made in my last, by giving
you an account of my late expedition.

I sailed from Brest loth of April. My plan was extensive. I there-
fore did not, at the beginning, wish to encumber myself with prisoners.
On the 14th I took a brigantine between Scylla and Cape Clear, bound
from Ostend with a cargo of flaxseed for Ireland, sunk her, and pro-
ceeded into St. George's Channel. On the 17th I took the ship Lord
Chatham, bound from London to Dubhn, with a cargo consisting of
porter and a variety of merchandize, and almost within sight of her
port; the ship I manned and ordered for Brest. Towards the evening
of the day following, the weather had a promising appearance, and the
winds being favorable, I stood over from the Isle of Man, with an inten-
tion to make a descent at "Whitehaven. At 10 o'clock, I was off the
harbor with a party of volunteers, and had everything in readiness to
land, but, before eleven, the wind greatly increased, and shifted so as to
blow directly upon the shore; the sea increased of course, and it became
impossible to effect a landing. This obliged me to carry all possible
sail, so as to clear the land, and to await a more favorable opportunit5^
On the 1 8th, in Glenbue Bay, on the south coast of Scotland, I met
with a revenue wherry; it being the common practice of these vessels
to board merchant ships, and the Ranger then having no external
appearance of war, it was expected that this rover would have come
alongside. I was, however, mistaken, for, though the men were at their
quarters, yet this vessel outsailed the Ranger, and got clear, in spite of
a severe cannonade.

The next morning, off the Mull of Galloway, I found myself so near
a Scotch coasting schooner, loaded with barley, that I could not avoid
sinking her. Understanding that 10 or 12 sail of merchant ships, besides
a tender brigantine with a number of impressed men on board, were at
anchor in Eoughryan in Scotland, I thought this an enterprise worthy
attention, but the wind, which at the first would have served equally
well to sail in or out of the Eough, shifted in a hard squall so as to blow
almost directly in, with an appearance of bad weather; I was therefore
obliged to abandon my project.

133

134 Letti

Seeing a cutter off the lee-bow steering for the Clyde, I gave chase in
hopes of cutting her off; but finding my endeavors ineffectual, I pursued
no farther than the rock of Ailsa. In the evening I fell in with a sloop
from Dublin, which I sunk to prevent intelligence.

The next day, the 21st, being near Carrickfergus, a fishing boat came
off, which I detained. I saw a ship at anchor in the road, which I was
informed by the fisherman, was the British ship-of-war Drake, of 20
guns. I determined to attack her in the night. My plan was to over-
lay her cable, and to fall upon her bow, so as to have all her decks open,
and exposed to our musketry, &c. ; at the same time it was my intention
to have secured the enemy by graplings, so that, had they cut their
cables, they would not thereby have attained an advantage. The wind
was high, and unfortunately the anchor was not let go so soon as the
order was given; so that the Ranger was brought up on the enemy's
quarter, at the distance of half a cable's length. We had made no
warlike appearance, of course had given no alarm; this determined me
to cut immediately, which might appear as if the cable had parted, and
at the same time enabling me, after making a tack out of the Lough, to
return with the same prospect of advantage which I had at the first. I
was, however, prevented from returning; as I with difficulty weathered
the lighthouse on the lee side of the Lough, and as the gale increased.

The weather now became so very stormy and severe, and the sea so
high, that I was obliged to take shelter under the south shore of Scotland.
The 2 2d introduced fair weather; though the three kingdoms as far as
the eye could reach were covered with snow. I now resolved once more
to attempt Whitehaven; but the wind became very light, so that the
ship could not, in proper time approach so near as I had intended. At
midnight I left the ship, with two boats and thirty-one volunteers.
When we reached the outer pier, the day began to dawn. I would not
however abandon my enterprise; but despatched one boat under the
direction of Mr. Hill and Lieutenant Wallingsford, with the necessary
combustibles, to set fire to the shipping on the north side of the harbor,
while I went with the other party to attempt the south side. I was
successful in scaling the walls, and spiking up all the cannon in the first
fort. Finding the sentinels shut up in the guard house, secured them
without their being hurt. Having fixed sentinels, I now took with me
one man only (Mr. Green), and spiked all the cannon on the southern
fort; distant from the other a quarter of a mile.

On my return from this business, I naturally expected to see the
fire of the ships on the north side, as well as to find my own party
with everything in readiness to set fire to the shipping in the south.
Instead of this, I found the boat under the direction of Mr. Hill and
Mr. Wallingsford returned, and the party in some confusion, their light
having burnt out at the instant when it became necessarj^ By the

J o liii Paul Jones Commemoration 135

Strangest fatality my own party were in the same situation, the candles
being all burnt out. The day too came on apace; yet I would by no
means retreat while any hopes of success remained. Having again placed
sentinels, a light was obtained at a house disjoined from the town; and
fire was kindled in the steerage of a large ship, which was surrounded
by at least an hundred and fifty others, chiefly from two to four hundred
tons burthen, and laying side by side aground, unsurrounded by the
water. There were, besides, from seventy to an hundred large ships in
the north arm of the harbor, aground, clear of the water, and divided
from the rest only by a stone pier of a ship's height. I should have
kindled fires in other places if the time had permitted. As it did not,
our care was to prevent the one kindled from being easil}' extinguished.
After some search a barrel of tar was found, and poured into the flames,
which now ascended from all the hatchways. The inhabitants 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 re-embarked without opposition,
having released a number of prisoners, as our boats could not carry
them. 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 amazed inhabitants.

When we had rowed a considerable distance from the shore, the
English began to run in vast numbers to their forts. Their disappoint-
ment may easily be imagined, when they found at least thirty heavy
cannon, the instruments of their vengeance, rendered useless. At
length, however, they began to fire; having, as I apprehend, either
brought down ship's guns, or used one or two cannon which lay on the
beach at the foot of the walls dismounted, and which had not been
spiked. They fired with no direction; and the shot falling short of
the boats, instead of doing us any damage, afforded some diversion,
which my people could not help showing, by discharging 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 two hundred, could possibly have escaped, and all the
world would not have been able to save the town. What was done,
however, is sufficient to show that not all their boasted navy can protect
their own coasts; and that the scenes of distress which they have occa-
sioned in America may be soon brought home to their own door. One
of my people was missing, and must, I fear, have fallen into the ene-
mies' hands after our departure. I was pleased that in this business we
neither killed nor wounded any person. I brought off three prisoners
as a sample.

136 Letters

We now stood over for the Scotch shore; and I landed at noon at St.
Mary's Isle, with one boat, and a very small party. The motives which
induced me to land there are explained in the within copy of a letter
which I have addressed to the Countess of Selkirk, dated the 8th instant.

On the morning of the 24th I was again off Carrickfergus, and would
have gone in had I not seen the Drake preparing to come out. It was
very moderate, and the Drake's boat was sent out to reconnoitre the
Ranger. As the boat advanced I kept the ship's stern directly towards
her; and though they had a spy glass in the boat, they came on within
hail, and alongside. When the officer came on the quarterdeck, he was
greatly surprised to find himself a prisoner; although an express had
arrived from Whitehaven the night before. I now understood, what I
had before imagined, that the Drake came out in consequence of this
information with volunteers, against the Ranger. The officer told
me, also, they had taken up the Ra7iger's anchor. The Drake was
attended by five small ves.sels full of people, who were led by curiosity
to see an engagement. But when they saw the Drake's boat at the
Ranger's stern they wisely put back.

Alarm smokes now appeared in great abundance, extending along on
both sides of the channel. The tide was unfavorable, so that the Drake
worked out but slowly. This obliged me 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 her out to about mid-chan-
nel, I suffered her to come within hail. The Drake hoisted English
colors, and, at the same instant, the American stars were displayed on
board the Ranger. I expected that preface had been now at an end,
but the enemy soon after hailed, demanding what ship it was? I
directed the master to answer, "the American Continental ^\^v^ Ranger;
that we waited for them, and desired that they would come on; the sun
was now little more than an hour from setting, it was therefore time to
begin." The Drake being astern of the Ranger, I ordered the helm up
and gave the first broadside. The action was warm, close, and obstin-
ate. It lasted an hour and four minutes, when the enemy called for
quarter; her fore and main-topsail yards being both cut away, and down
on the cap; the top-gallant yard and mizen-gaff both hanging up and
down along the mast; the second ensign which they had hoisted shot
away, and hanging on the quarter-gallery in the water; the jib shot
away, and hanging in the water; her sails and rigging entirely cut to
pieces; her masts and yard all wounded, and her hull also very much
galled. I lost only Lieutenant Wallingsford and one seaman, Johu
Dougall, killed, and six wounded; among whom are the gunner, Mr.
Falls, and Mr. Powers, midshipman, who lost his arm. One of the
wounded, Nathaniel Wills, is since dead; the rest will recover. The
loss of the enemy in killed and wounded was far greater. All the pris-
oners allow that they came out with a number not less than a hundred

John Pa 71 1 Jones Commemoration 137

and sixty men: and many of them affirm that they amounted to an hun-
dred and ninety. The medium is perhaps, the most correct; and by that
it will appear that they lost in killed and wounded forty-two men. The
captain and lieutenant were among the wounded. The former, having
received a musket ball in the head the minute before they called for
quarters, lived, and was sensible some time after my people boarded the
prize. The lieutenant survived two days. They were buried with the
honors due to their rank, and with the respect due to their memory.

The night and almost the whole day after the action being moderate,
greatly facilitated the refitting of both ships. A large brigantine was
so near the Drake in the afternoon that I was obliged to bring her to.
She belonged to Whitehaven, and was bound for Norway.

I had thought of returning by the south channel ; but, the wind shift-
ing, I determined to pass by the north, and round the west coast of Ireland.
This brought me once more off Belfast Lough, on the evening after the
engagement. It was now time to release the honest fisherman, whom I
took up here on the 21st, and 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 everything 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 sufficiently explain what had happened to the volunteers.
The grateful fishermen were in raptures ; and expressed their joy in
three huzzas as they passed the Ranger' s quarter.

I again met with contrary winds in the mouth of the North Channel,
but nothing remarkable happened, till on the morning of the 5th cur-
rent, Ushant then bearing S. E. by S., distance fifteen leagues, when
seeing a sail to leeward steering for the Channel, the wind being favor-
able for Brest and the distance trifling, I resolved to give chase, having
the Drake in tow. I informed them of my intentions, and ordered them
to cast off. They cut the hawser. The Ranger in the chase went lask-
ing between N. N. E. and N. N. W. It lasted an hour and ten minutes,
when the chase was hailed and proved a Swede. I immediately hauled
by the wind to the southward.

After cutting the hawser, the Drake went from the wind for some
time, then hauled close by the wind, steering from S. S. E. to S. S. W.
as the wind permitted, so that when the Ranger spoke the chase the
Drake was scarcely perceptible. In the course of the day many large
ships appeared, steering into the Channel, but the extraordinary evolu-
tions of the Drake made it impossible for me to avail myself of these
favorable circumstances. Towards noon it became very squally, the
wind backed from the S. W. to the W. The Ranger had come up with

138 Letters

the Drake, and was nearly abreast of her, though considerably to the
leeward when the wind shifted. The Drake was however kept by the
wind, though, as I afterwards understood, they knew the Ranger, and
saw the signal which she had hoisted. After various evolutions and
signals in the night, I gave chase to a sail which appeared bearing
S- S. W. the next morning at a great distance. The chase discovered
no intention to speak with the Ranger ; she was, however, at length
brought to, and proved to be the Drake. I immediately put Lieut.
Simpson under suspension and arrest, for disobedience of my orders,
dated the 26th ult., a copy whereof is here inclosed. On the 8th, both
ships anchored safe in this Road, the Ranger having been absent only
twenty-eight days. Could I suppose that my letters of the gth and
1 6th current, (the first advising you of my arrival, and giving reference
to the events of my expedition; the last advising you of my draft in
favor of Monsieur Bersolle, for 24,000 livres, and assigning reasons for
that demand), had not made due appearance, I would hereafter, as I do
now, inclose copies. Three posts have already arrived here from Paris,
since Compte d'Orvilliers showed 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 loth of 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 i6th current, I doubled
that demand. Could this indignity be kept secret I should disregard it;
and, although it is already public in Brest and in the fleet, as it affects
only my private credit, I will not complain. I cannot, however, be
silent when I find the public credit involved in the same disgrace. I
conceive this might have been prevented. To make me completely
wretched. Monsieur 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
provisions. I know not where to find to-morrow's dinner for the great
number of mouths which depend upon me for food. Are then the con-
tinental 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, to cover their nakedness
and the prizes are precluded from being sold before farther orders arrive
from the minister. I will ask you, gentlemen, if I have deserved all
this? Whoever calls himself an American ought to be protected here.
I am unwilling to think that you have intentionally involved me in this
sad dilemma, at a time when I ought to expect some enjoyment. There-
fore I have, as formerly, the honor to be, with due esteem and respect,
gentlemen, yours, &c.

[Jno. p. Jones.]

The Americvn Plenipotentiaries at the Court of France.

FACSIMILE OF A COPY OF THE GOLD MEDAL ORDERED BY CONGRESS, OCTOBER 16, 1787, "IN
COMMEMORATION OF THE VALOR AND BRILLIANT SERVICES" OF "THE CHEVALIER JOHN PAUL
JONES"

Designed by F. Duprc, Paris. Tlie reverse shows the shattered Boiihofiuite Ric/tard battling with
the Seiapis, and the Alh'aucir, at the left, firing into her consort, the Bonhomme Richard,

SWORD SAID TO HAVE BEEN CARRIED BY JOHN PAUL JONES
DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

REPORT OF JOHN PAUL JONES

CRUISE OF U. S. SHIP BONHOMME RICHARD AND SQUAD-
RON, AND CAPTURE OF H. B. M. SHIPS SERAPIS AND
COUNTESS OF SCARBOROUGH

[From contemporary copy in the library o! Congress. Spelling and capitalization closely

followed.]

On Board the Ship of War Serapis,
AT Anchor Without the Texei., in Houand,

oar 3, 1779-

Honored & Dear Sir, When I had the honor of writing to you on
the II August, previous to my departure from the Road of Groa, I had
before me the most flattering prospect of rendering essential Ser^-ice to
the Common Cause of France and America. I had a full confidence in
the Voluntary inclination & Ability of every Captain under my Com-
mand, to assist & Support me in my duty With cheerful Emulation ;
& I Was persuaded that Every one of them Would pursue Glory in
preference to intrest.

Whether I Was, or Was not deceived. Will best appear \yy a relation
of Circumstances.

The l,ittle Squadron under my orders. Consisting of the B. S. R. , of
40 guns; the Alliance, of 36 guns; the Pallas, of 32 guns; the Ce7'f,
of 18 guns; and the Vengeance, of 12 guns; joyned by two privateers,
the Monsieur and the Granville, Sailed from the Road of Groa at Day-
break on the 14. of August; the Same day We Spoke With a Large
Convoy bound from the Southward to Brest.

On the 1 8 we retook a large Ship belonging to Holland, Laden Chiefly
With brandy & Wine that had been destined from Barcelona for Dun-
kirk, and taken Eight days before by an English privateer. The
Captain of the privateer Monsieur, took out of this prize Such Articles
as he pleased in the Night ; and the Next day being astern of the Squad-
ron and to Windward, he actually wrote orders in his proper name, and
Sent away the prize under one of his own oflBcers. This, however, I
Superseded by Sending her for L' Orient under my orders, in the Char-
acter of Commander in Chief. The Evening of the day following, the
Monsieur Separated from the Squadron.

On the 20 We Saw and chaced a Large Ship, but could not overtake
her, She being to Windward.

139

140 Letters

On the 2 1 We Saw and Chaced another Ship that Was also to Wind-
ward, & thereby Eluded our pursuit: The Same afternoon, We took a
brigantine Called the Mayflower, leaden With butter and Salt provision,
bound from lyimerick in Ireland for lyondon: this Vessel I immediately
expedited for L' Orient.

On the 23d, We Saw Cap Clear and the S. W. part of Ireland. That
afternoon, it being Calm, I sent Some armed boats to take a brigantine
that appeared in the N. W. quarter. Soon after, in the Evening, it
became necessary to have a boat ahead of the Ship to tow, as the helm
Could not prevent her from I,aying across the tide of flood. Which
Would have driven us into a deep and dangerous bay, Situated between
the Rocks on the South called the Skallocks, and on the North Called
the Blaskats; The Ship's boats being absent, I Sent my own barge
ahead to tow the Ship. The boats took the brigantine; She being Called
the Fortune and bound with a Cargo of oil, blubber & staves, from New-
foundland for Bristol, this Vessel I ordered to proceed immediately for
Nantes or St. Malo. Soon after Sun Set the villain who towed the Ship,
cut the tow rope and decamped with my barge. Sundry Shot, Were
fired to bring them too Without effect; in the mean time the master of
the B. H. R., without orders, manned one of the Ship's boats, and With
four Soldiers pursued the barge in order to stop the deserters. The
Evenin Was then Clear and Serene, but the Zeal of that officer, [Mr.
Cutting Lunt,]" induced him to pursue too far, and a fog Which came
on Soon afterwards prevented the boats from rejo5'ning the Ship, altho'
I Caused Signal guns to be frequently fired. The fog and Calm Con-
tinued the next day till towards the Evening. In the afternoon Captain
Eandais came on board the B. H. R. and beheaved towards me with
great disrespect, affirming in the most indelicate manner and I,anguage,
that I had lost my boats and people thro' my imprudence in Sending
boats to take a prize ! He persisted in his reproaches, though he Was
assured by MM. de Weibert and de Chamillard, that the barge Was tow-
ing the Ship at the [time of] Elopement, and that she had not been Sent
in pursuit of the prize. He was affronted, because I Would not the day
before Suffer him to chace without my orders, and to approach the dan-
gerous Shore I have already mentioned, Where he Was an entire Stran-
ger, and When there Was [not] sufficient wind to govern a Ship. He
told me that he Was the only American in the Squadron, and Was
determined to follow his own opinion in chacing Where and When he
thought proper, and in every other matter that Concerned the Service,
and that if I continued in that Situation three days longer, the Squadron
Would be taken, &c. By the advice of Captain de Cottineau, and With
the free Consent and approbation of M. De Varage, I sent the Cerf'va. to
reconnoitre the Coast, and Endeavour to take the boats and people, the

a All brackets in this paper are in the original manuscript. — Computer.

/ o h 71 P a u I J o n e s L o m m e m o r a t i o n 141

next daj-, AVliile the Squadron Stood off and on in the S. W quarter, in
the best possible Situation to intercept the Enemie's merchant Ships,
whether outward or homeward bound. The Cerf had on board a pilot
\^'ell acquainted \\^ith the Coast, and A\^as ordered to Joyn me again
before Night. I approached the Shore in the afternoon, but the Cerf
did not appear; this induced me to Stand off again in the night in order
to return and be rejoined by the Cerf VXio. Next day; but to my great
Concern and disapointment, tho' I ranged the Coast along and hoisted
our private Signal, neither the boats nor the Cerf joined me. The
Evening of that da}-, the 26, brought with it Stormy Weather, With an
appearance of a Severe gale from the S. W., yet I must declare I did
not follow my own judgment, but Was led by the assertion Which had
fallen from Captain Landais, When I in the evening made a Signal
to Steer to the Northward and Eeave that Station, Which I Wished to
have occupied at Least a Week longer. The gale increased in the Night
With thick Weather; to Prevent Separation, I carried a top Light and
fired a gun Ever}^ quarter of an hour. I Carried, also, a Very moderate
sail, and the Course had been Clearly pointed [out] by a Signal before
night, yet With all this precaution, I found myself accompanied only by
the Brigantine \ 'cngeance in the morning, the Granville having remained
astern with a prize. As I have since understood the tiller of the Pallas
broke after midnight Which disenabled her from Keeping up, but no
apology has yet been made in behalf of the Alliance.

On the 31, we saw the Flamie Islands situated near the Lewis, on the
N. ^ . coast of Scotland; and the next morning, off Cap \^'rath, We
gave Chace to a Ship to Windward, at the Same time two Ships appear-
ing in the N. W. quarter. Which proved to be the Alliance and a prize
Ship Which she had taken, bound, as I understood, from Liverpool for
Jamaica. The Ship Which I Chaced brought too at noon. She proved
the Unio7i letter of Marque, bound from London for Quebeck, With a
Cargo of naval Stores on account of government, adapted for the service
of the British armed Vessels on the lakes. The public despatches Were
lost, as the Alliance X&xy imprudently hoisted American Colours, though
English colours were then flying on board the B. II. R. Captain Landais
Sent a Small boat to ask Whether I Would man the Ship or [he] Should,
as in the Latter Case he Would Suffer nor boat nor person from the
B. H. R. to go near the prize. Ridiculous as this appeared to me, I
yielded to it for the Sake of pease, and received the prisoners on board
the B. H. R. , While the prize was manned from the Alliance. In the
afternoon another sail appeared, and I immediately made the Signal for
the Alliance to chace, but instead of obeying, he Wore and Laid the
Ship's head the other Way. The next morning I made a Signal to
Speak with the Allia7ice, to Which no attention Was Shown. I then
made Sail With the Ships in Company, for the second rendezvous. Which

142 Letters

Was not far distant, and Where I full}' Expected to be Joined by the
Pallas and the Cerf.

The 2 of September We Saw a Sail at daybreak, and gave Chace ;
that Ship proved to be the Pallas, and had met With no Success While
Separated from the B. H. R.

On the 3 the Vengeance brought too a Small Irish brigantine, bound
homewards from Norway. The Same Evening I Sent the Vengeance in
the N. E. quarter to bring up the two prize Ships that appeared to me
to be too near the Islands of Shetland, While with the Alliance and the
Pallas, I Endeavoured to Weather Fair Isle, and to get into my Second
rendezvous, Where I directed the Vengeance to join me With the three
prizes. The Next morning, having Weathered Fair Isle, and not Seeing
the Vengeance nor the prizes, I spoke the Alliance and ordered her to
Steer to the Northward and bring them up to the rendezvous.

On the Morning of the 5 the Alliance appeared again, and had brought
too two Very Small Coasting Sloops in ballast, but Without having
attended properly to my orders of yesterday. The Vengeance Joined me
Soon after, and informed me that in Consequence of Captain Landais'
orders to the commanders of the two prize Ships, they had refused to
follow him to the rendezvous. I am to this moment ignorant what
orders these men received from Captain Landais, Nor Know I by Virtue
of What authority he Ventured to give his orders to prizes in my pres-
ence and Without Either my Knowledge or approbation. Captain Ricot
further informed me that he had burnt the prize brigantine, because
that Vessel proved Leaky ; and I Was Sorry to understand afterward
that though the Vessel Was Irish property, the cargo Was Property of
the Subjects of Norway.

In the Evening I Sent for all the Captains [to] Come on board the
B. H. R. , to Consult on future plans of operation. Captains Cottineau
and Ricot obeyed me, but Captain Landais obstinately refused, and after
sending me Various uncivil messages. Wrote me a Very Extraordinary
Letter in answer to a Written Order, Which I had Sent him, on linding
that he had trifled With my Verbal orders. The Next day a pilot boat
came on board from Shetland, by Which means I received Such advices
as induced me to change a plan Which I otherwise meant to have pur-
sued, and as the Cerf did not appear at my Second rendezvous I deter-
mined to Steer towards the third in hopes of meeting her there.

In the afternoon a gale of Wind came on, which Continued four days
Without intermission. In the Second night of that gale, the Alliance,
With her two Little prizes, again Separated from the B. H. R. I had
now with me only the Pallas and the Vefigeancc, yet I did not abandon
the hopes of performing Some essential Service. The Winds Continued
Contrary, So that We did not see the laud till the Evening of the 13,
When the hills of the Cheviot in the S. E. of Scotland appeared. The
next day We Chased Sundry Vessels and took a Ship and a brigantine,

John Paul Jones Commemoration 143

both from the Firth of Edinburgh, lyaden with coal. Knowing that
there lay at anchor in L,eith Road an armed ship of 20 guns, With two
or three fine cutters, I formed an Expedition against Leith, Which I
purposed to Lay under a Large contribution, or otherwise to reduce it to
ashes. Had I been alone, the Wind being favorable, I Would have
proceeded directly up the Firth, and must have Succeeded; as they lay
there in a State of perfect indolence and Security, Which Would have
proved their ruin. Unfortunately for me, the Pallas and Vengeance
Were both at a considerable distance in the offing; they having chaced
to the Southward ; this obliged me to Steer out of the Firth again to
meet them. The Captains of the Pallas and Vengeance being Come on
board the .5. H. R., I Communicated to them my project, to Which
many difficulties and objections Were made by them: At Last, how-
ever, they appeared to think better of the design after I had assured
[them] that I hoped to raise a contribution of 200,000 pounds sterling
on Leith, and that there was no battery of Cannon there to oppose our
Landing. So much time, however, was unavoidably Spent in pointed
remarks and Sage deliberation that Night, [that] the Wind became
Contrary in the morning.

We continued Working to Windward up the Firth Without being able
to reach the Road of Leith, till on the morning of the 17, When being
almost Within Cannon Shot of the town, having Every thing in readi-
ness for a descent, a Very Severe gale of Wind came on, and being
directly Contrary, obliged us to bear awaj', after having in Vain Endeav-
oured for Some time to Withstand its Violence. The Gale Was so
Severe, that one of the prizes that had been taken the 14 Sunk to the
bottom, the Crew being With difBculty Saved. As the alarm had by
this time reached Leith by means of a cutter that had Watched our
motions that morning, and as the Wind Continued Contrary, (tho' more
moderate in the evening) I thought it impossible to pursue the Enter-
prise With a good prospect of Success, Especially as Edinbourgh Where
there is always a number of troops, is only a mile distant from Leith,
therefore I gave up the project.

On the ig, having taken a Sloop and a brigantine in ballast. With a
Sloop laden With building timber, I proposed another project to ^Ir.
Cottineau, Which Would have been highly honorable tho' not profit-
able; many difficulties Were made, and our Situation Was represented
as being the most perilous. The Enemy, he Said, Would Send against
us a Superior force, and that if I obstinately Continued on the Coast of
England two days longer, We Should all be taken. The Vengeance
having chaced along Shore to the Southward, Captain Cottineau Said he
Would follow her With the prizes, as I Was unable to make much Sail,
having that day been obliged to Strike the main-top-mast to repair its
damages; and as I afterward understood, he told M. De Chamillard that
unless I joined them the next day, both the Pallas and the Vengeance

144 Letters

Would L,eave that Coast. I had thoughts of attempting the Enterprise
alone after the Pallas had made sail to join the Vengeajice. I am per-
suaded even now, that I Would have Succeeded, and to the honor of my
young officers, I found them as ardently disposed to the business as I
could desire: nothing prevented me from pursuing my design but the
reproach that Would have been Cast upon my Character, as a man of
prudence, had the Enterprise miscarried, It Would have been Said,
Was he not forewarned by Captain Cottineau and others?

I made Sail along Shore to the Southward, and next morning took a
coasting Sloop in ballast, Which With another that I had taken the
night before, I ordered to be Sunk. In the Evening, I again met With
the Pallas and Vengeance off Whitby. Captain Cottineau told me he
had Sunk the brigantine, and ransomed the Sloop, laden With building
timber that had been taken the day before. I had told Captain Cot-
tineau the day before, that I had no authority to ransom prizes.

On the 21 we saw and chaced two sail, of Flamborough Head, the
Pallas chaced in the N. E. quarter, while the B. H. R. followed by the
Vengeance chaced in the S. W. The one I chaced, a brigantine collier
in ballast belonging to Scarborough, Was Soon taken, and Sunk imme-
diately afterwards, as a fleet then appeared to the Southward. This
was so late in the day that I Could not Come up With the fleet before
Night; at Length, however, I got so near one of them, as to force her
to run ashore, between Flamborough Head and the Spurn: Soon after
I took another, a brigantine from hoUand belonging to Sunderland; and
at DayLight the next morning. Seeing a fleet Steering towards me from
the Spurn, I imagined them to be a convoy, bound from London for
Leith, which had been for some time Expected, one of them had a
pendant hoisted, and appeared to be a ship of force, thej' had not, how-
ever. Courage to Come on, but keept Back all Except the one Which
Seemed to be armed, and that one also keept to Windward verj- near
the land, and on the Edge of dangerous Shoals Where I could not With
Safety approach.

This induced me to make a Signal for a pilot, and Soon afterward
two pilot boats Came oif ; they informed me that the Ship that Wore a
pendant Was an armed merchant Ship, and that a King's frigate lay
there in Sight, at anchor Within the Humber, waiting to take under
Convoy a number of merchant Ships bound to the northward. The
pilots imagined the B. H. R. to be an English Ship of War, and conse-
quently Communicated to me the private Signal Which they had been
required to make. I Endeavoured by this means to decoy the Ships out
of the port, but the Wind then changing, and ^\'ith the tide becoming
unfavourable for them, the deception had not the desired effect, and they
Wisely put back. The Entrance of the Humber is Exceedingly difii-
cult and dangerous, and as the Pallas was not in sight, I thought it not
prudent to remain off the Entrance; i therefore Steered out again to

John Paul [ones Commemoration 145

join the Pallas off Flamborough Head. In the night We Saw and
chaced two Ships, until 3 o'clock in the morning, When being at a Very
Small distance from them, I made the private Signal of reconnoisance.
Which I had given to Each captain before I Sailed from Groa. One
half of the answer only Was returned. In this position both Sides lay
too till daylight. When the Ships proved to be the Alliance and the
Pallas.

On the morning of that day, the 23, the brig from Holland not being
in Sight, we chaced a brigantine that appeared Laying too to Winward.
About noon We Saw and chaced a large ship that appeared Coming
round Flamborough Head, from the Northward, and at the same time I
manned and armed one of the pilot boats to send in pursuit of the brig-
antine. Which now appeared to be the Vessel that I had forced ashore.
Soon after this a fleet of 41 Sail appeared off Flamborough Head, bearing
N. N. E.; this induced me to abandon the Single Ship Which had then
anchored in Burlington Bay; I also Called back the pilot boat and
hoisted a Signal for a general chace. When the fleet discovered us
bearing down, all the merchant ships Crowded Sail towards the Shore.
The two Ships of War that protected the fleet, at the Same time Steered
from the land, and made the disposition for the battle. In approaching
the Enemy I crowded Every possible Sail, and made the Signal for the
line of battle, to Which the Alliance Showed no attention. Earnest as I
Was for the action, I Could not reach the Commodore's Ship until Seven
in the evening, being then within pistol shot. When he hailed the
B. H. R. , we answered him by firing a Whole broadside.

The battle being thus begun. Was Continued With unremitting fury.
Every method was practised on both Sides to gain an advantage, and
rake Each other ; and I must Confess that the Enemie's Ship being
much more manageable than the B. H. R. , gained thereby several times
an advantageous situation, in spite of my best endeavours to prevent it.
As I had to deal With an Enemy of greatly Superior force , I was under
the necessity of Closing with him, to prevent the advantage Which he
had over me in point of manoeuvre. It was my intention to lay the
B. H. R. athwart the enemie's bow, but as that operation required great
dexterity in the management of both Sails and helm, and Some of our
braces being Shot away, it did not exactly succeed to my Wishes, the
Enemie's bowsprit, however, came over the B. H. R.'s poop by the
mizen mast, and I made both Ships fast together in that Situation, Which
by the action of the Wind on the Enemie's Sails, forced her Stern close
to the B. H. R.'s bow, so that the Ships lay Square along side of each
other, the yards being all entangled, and the cannon of Each Ship
touching the opponent's Side. When this position took place it Was
8 o'clock, previous to which the B. H. R. had received sundry eighteen
7257—07 10

146 Letters

pounds Shot below the water, and Leaked Very much. My battery
of 12 pounders, on Which I had placed my chief dependance, being
Commanded by lyieut. Deal" and Col. Weibert, and manned principally
with American seamen, and French Volunteers, Were entirely silenced
and abandoned. As to the six old eighteen pounders that formed the
Battery of the Lower gun-deck, they did no Service Whatever: two out
of three of them burst at the first fire, and killed almost all the men
Who Were stationed to manage them, before this time too, Col. de
Chamillard, Who Commanded a party of 20 soldiers on the poop had
abandoned that Station, after having lost* some of his men. I had now
only two pieces of Cannon, nine pounders, on the quarter deck that
Were not silenced, and not one of the heavy er Cannon Was fired during
the rest of the action. The purser, Mr. Mease, Who Commanded the
guns on the quarter deck, being dangerously Wounded in the head, I
was obliged to fill his place, and With great difficulty rallied a few men,
and Shifted over one of the Lee quarter-deck guns. So that We after-
ward played three pieces of 9 pounders upon the Enemy. The tops
alone Seconded the fire of this little battery, and held out bravely during
the Whole of the action ; Especially the main top. Where Lieut. Stack
commanded. I directed the fire of one of the three Cannon against the
main-mast. With double-headed Shot, While the other two Were ex-
ceedingly Well Served With Grape and Cannister Shot to Silence the
Enemie's musquetry, and clear her decks, Which Was at last Effected.
The Enemy Were, as I have Since understood, on the instant of Calling
for quarters. When the Cowardice or treachery of three of my under
officers induced them to Call to the Enemy. The English Commodore
asked me if I demanded quarters, and I having answered him in the
most determined negative, they renewed the battle with Double fury ;
they Were unable to Stand the deck, but the fire of their Cannon, espe-
cially the lower battery. Which Was Entirely formed of 18 pounders.
Was incessant, both Ships Were Set on fire in Various places, and the
Scene was dreadful beyond the reach of Language. To account for the
timidity of my three under officers, I mean the gunner, the carpenter,
and the master-at-arms, I must obser\?e that the two first Were Slightly
Wounded, and as the Ship had received Various Shots under Water, and
one of the pumps being Shot away, the Carpenter Expressed his fear
that she Should Sink, and the other two concluded that She Was Sink-
ing ; Which occasioned the gunner to run aft on the poop without my
Knowledge, to Strike the Colours, fortunately for me, a Cannon ball
had done that before, by carrying away the ensign staff: he was there-
fore reduced to the necessity of Sinking, as he Supposed, or of Calling
for quarter, and he preferred the Latter.

a This refers to Lieutenant Richard Dale. — COMPILER.

^These Men Deserted their Quarters. (Footnote on original. — Compiler.)

John PaiLl Jo7ics Commemoration 147

All this time the B. H. R. had Sustained the action alone, and the
Enemy, though much Superior in force, Would have been Very glad to
have got clear, as appears by their own acknowledgements, and by their
having let go an anchor the instant that I laid them on board, by Which
means they Would have escaped had I not made them Well fast to the
B. H. R.

At last, at half past 9 o'clock, the Alliance appeared, and I now
thought the battle was at an End; but, to my utter astonishment, he
discharged a broadside full into the stern of the B. H. R. We called
to him for God's Sake to forbear firing into the B. H. R. ; yet he passed
along the off Side of the Ship and continued firing. There was no possi-
bility of his mistaking the Enemie's Ship for the B. H. R., there being
the most essential difference in their appearance and Construction;
besides, it Was then full moon I^ight, and the Sides of the B. H. R.
Were all black, while the Sides of the prizes Were yellow, yet, for the
greater Security, I Shewed the Signal of our reconnoissance, by putting
out three Lanthorns, one at the head, (Bow,) another at the Stern,
(Quarter,) and the third in the middle, in a horizontal line. Every
tongue Cried that he Was firing into the Wrong Ship, but nothing
availed; he passed round, firing into the B. H. R.'s head, stern, and
broadside, and by one of his Vollies Killed several of mj' best men, and
mortally wounded a good officer on the forecastle. My Situation Was
really deplorable. The B. H. R. received various Shot under Water
from the Alliance; the Eeack gained on the pump, and the fire increased
much on board both Ships. Some officers persuaded me to strike, of
Whose Courage and good sense I entertain an high opinion. My
treacherous master-at-arms let Loose all my prisoners Without my
Knowledge, and my prospect became gloomy indeed. I Would not,
however, give up the point. The Enemie's main-mast begain to shake,
their firing decreased, ours Rather increased, and the British colours
Were Struck at half an hour past 10 o'clock.

This prize proved to be the British Ship of War the Serapis, a New
Ship of 44 guns, built on their most approved Construction, With two
compleat batteries, one of them of 18 pounders, and Commanded by the
brave Commodore Richard Pearson. I had yet two enemies to encoun-
ter far more formidable than the britons; I mean fire and Water. The
Serapis Was attacked only by the first, but thei?. H. R. ^■ss, assailed by
both: there Was five feet Water in the hould, and Tho it Was moderate
from the Explosion of so much gunpowder, yet the three pumps that
remained Could With difficulty only Keep the Water from gaining. The
fire broke out in Various parts of the Ship, in spite of all the Water that
could be thrown to quench it, and at length broke out as low as the
powder magazine, and Within a few inches of the powder, in that
dilema, I took out the povi^der upon deck, ready to be thrown overboard

148 Letters

at the I,ast Extremity, and it was 10 o'clock the next day, the 24, before
the fire Was entirely Extinguished. With respect to the situation of
the B. H. R., the rudder Was Cut entirely off, the stern frame, and the
transoms Were almost Entirely Cut away, the timbers, by the lower
Deck especially, from the mainmast to the Stern, being greatly decayed
with age, Were mangled beyond my power of description, and a person
must have been an Eye- Witness to form a just idea of the tremendous
scene of Carnage, Wreck, and ruin, that Every Where appeared.
Humanity Cannot but recoil from the prospect of Such finished horror,
and Lament that War Should produce Such fatal consequences.

After the Carpenters, as well as Capt. de Cottineau, and other men of
Sense, had Well Examined and Surveyed the Ship, (Which Was not
finished before five in the Evening,) I found every person to be
Convinced that it Was impossible to keep the B. H. R. afloat so as to
reach a port if the Wind vShould increase, it being then only a Very
moderate breeze. I had but Eittle time to remove my Wounded, which
now became unavoidable, and Which Was effected in the Course of the
night and the next morning. I Was determined to Keep the B. H. R.
afloat, and, if possible, to bring her into port. For that purpose, the
first lieutenant of the Pallas continued on board, With a party of men
to attend the pumps. With boats in Waiting ready to take them on
board, in Case the Water Should gain on them too fast. The Wind
augmented in the Night and the next day, on the 25, So that it Was
impossible to prevent the good old Ship from Sinking. They did not
abandon her till after 9 o'clock: the Water Was then up to the Eower
deck; and a little after ten, I Saw With inexpressible grief the last
glimpse of the B. H. R. No Eives were lost With the Ship, but it Was
impossible to save the stores of any sort Whatever. I Eost even the
best part of my Cloaths, books, and papers; and Several of my of&cers
lost all their Cloaths and Effects.

Having thus Endeavoured to give a Clear and Simple relation of the
Circumstances and Events that have attended the little armament under
my com, I Shall freely Submit my Conduct therein to the Censure of
my Superiors and the impartial public. I beg leave, however, to
observe, that the force that Was put under my command Was far from
being Well composed, and as the great majority of the actors in it have
appeared bent on the pursuit of intrest only, I am Exceedingly sorry
that they and I have been at all concerned. I am in the highest degree
Sensible of the Singular attentions Which I have Experienced from the
Court of France, Which I Shall remember With perfect gratitude until
the End of my Eife ; and Will always Endeavour to merit, while I Can,
Consistent With my honour. Continue in the public Service. I must
speak plainly. As I have been always honored With the full Confidence
of Congress, and as I also flattered myself With Enjoying in Some
measure the Confidence of the Court of France, I Could not but be

Johji Paul Jones C omvi e m o r a ti on 149

astonished at the Conduct of M. de Chaumont, When, in the moment
of my departure from Groa, he produced a paper, a Concordat, for me
to Sign, in Common with the officers Whom I had Commissioned but a
few days before. Had that paper, or Even a less dishonorable one, been
proposed to me at the beginning, I would have rejected it With
Just Contempt ; and the Word deplacement among others should have
been necessary. I Cannot, however, Even now Suppose that he Was
authorized by the Court to make Such a Bargain With me ; Nor Can I
Suppose that the minister of the marine meant that M. de Chaumont
should Consider me merely as a Colleague With the Commanders of the
other Ships, and Communicate to them not only all he Knew, but all he
thought, respecting our destination and operations. M. de Chaumont
has made me Various reproaches on account of the Expence of the
B. H. R. wherewith I cannot think I have been justly chargeable.
M. de Chamillard can attest that the B. H. R. Was at I^ast far from
being well fitted or armed for War. If any person or persons Who have
been charged With the Expense of that armament have acted Wrong,
the fault must not be Laid to my charge. I had no authority to Super-
intend that armament, and the persons Who had authority Were So far
from giving me What I thought necessary, that M. de Chaumont Even
refused, among other things, to allow me Irons for securing the prisoners
of War.

In Short, While my Eife remains, if I have any Capacity to render
good and acceptable Services to the Common Cause, no man Will Step
Forth with greater cheerfulness and alacrity than m5'self , but I am not
made to be dishonoured, nor can I accept of the half Confidence of any
man living; of Course I Cannot, Consistent With my honor and a pros-
pect of Success, undertake future Expeditions, unless When the object
and destination is communicated to me alone, and to no other person
in the marine Eine. In Cases Where troops are Embarked, a like con-
fidence is due alone to their Commander in Chief. On no other Condi-
tion Will I ever undertake the Chief Command of a private Expedition;
and when I do not Command in Chief, I have no desire to be in the
secret.

Captain Cottineau Engaged the Countess of Scarboroiigh and took her
after an hour's action, while the B. H. R. Engaged the Serapis. The
Countess of Scarborough is an armed ship of 20 six pounders, and Was
Commanded by a King's officer. In the action, the Countess of Scarbor-
ough and the Serapis Were at a Considerable distance asunder ; and the
Alliance, as I am informed, fired into the Pallas and Killed some men. If
it Should be asked Why the Convoy Was Suffered to Escape, I must
answer, that I Was myself in no condition to pursue, and that none of
the rest Shewed any inclination, not even Mr. Ricot, who had held off
at a distance to Windward during the Whole Action, and Witheld by

150 Letters

force the pilot boat With my Lieutenant and 15 men/' The Alliance too,
Was in a State to pursue the fleet, not having had a Single man
wounded, or a Single Shot fired at her from the Serapis, and only three
that did execution from the Countess of Scarborough, at such a distance
that one Stuck in the Side, and the other two just touched and then
dropped into the Water. The Alliance killed one man only on board
the Serapis. As Captain de Cottineau charged himself with manning
and securing the prisoners of the Countess of Scarborough ; I think the
escape of the Baltic fleet Cannot So Well be Charged to his account.

I should have mentioned, that the main-mast and mizen-top-mast of
the Serapis fell overboard soon after the captain had come on board the
B. H. R.

Upon the Whole, the captain of the Alliance has beheaved so Very 111
in Every respect, that I must Complain loudly of his Conduct. He
pretends that he is authorized to act independent of my command: I
have been taught the Contrary; but Supposing it to be so, his Conduct
has been base and unpardonable. M. de Chamillard Will Explain the
particulars. Either Captain I,andais or myself is highly Criminal, and
one or the other must be punished. I forbear to take any steps With
him until I have the advice and approbation of your Excellency. I
have been advised by all the ofiicers of the Squadron to put M. I,andais
under arrest; but as I have postponed it So long, I Will bear With him
a Ifittle lyonger until the return of my Express.

We this Day anchored here having. Since the action been tossed to
and fro by Contrary Winds. I Wished to have gained the Road of
Dunkirk on account of our prisoners, but Was Overruled by the majority
of viy Colleagues. I Shall heasten up to Amsterdam, and there if I meet
With no orders for my government, I Will take the advice of the French
Ambassador. It is my present intention to have the Countess of Scar-
borough ready to transport the prisoners from hence to Dunkirk, unless
it should be found more Expedient to deliver them to the English
ambassador, taking his obligation to Send to Dunkirk, &c. immediately
an Equal number of American prisoners. I am under Strong apprehen-
sions that our object here will fail, and that thro' the imprudence of M.
de Chaumont, who has Communicated Every thing he Knew or thought
on the matter to persons Who Cannot help talking of it at a full table.
This is the way he keeps State Secrets, tho' he never mentioned the
affair to me.

I am ever, &c. Jno. P. Jones.

His Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, &c. &c.

[This manuscript bears the contemporaneous endorsement: "An exact copy." —
COMPIIvER.]

aThis is founded on a report that has proved to be false ; for it now appears that
Capt. Ricot expressly ordered the pilot-boat to board the B. H. R., which order was
disobeyed. [Footnote on original. — COMPttER.]

CERTIFICATE OF MESSRS. VAN BERCKEL
AND DUMAS

[From contemporary copy in the I^ibrary of Congress.]

Attestation de DI. I'an Berckel, Grand Pensionnaire d' Amsterdam, etdelSF. Dumas,
Agent des Etats- Unis en Hollande.

Le Commandeur Paul Jones, Commandant une Escadre legere equip-
pee aux frais de sa Maj. Tr. Chretienne, sous Pavilion et commis-
sion des Etats-Unis d'Amerique, fit voile de France le 14' Aout, 1779
dans le tems environ que la grande Flotte combinee de France et d'Es-
pagne de 66 vaisseaux de ligne sous le Commandement de S. E. le
Comte d'Orvilliers, parut dans le canal entre la France et I'Angleterre.
Comme on s'attendoit qu'une armee Frangoise sous la protection de cette
Flotte feroit une descente &. la C6te m^ridionale de I'Angleterre, le Com-
mandeur, ayant Carte Blanche, crut de son devoir de faire une forte
diversion pour faciliter I'entreprise. Pour cet eflEet, il allarma et insulta
les Ports de I'Ennemi depuis le cap Clear, le long de la cote occidentale
de rirlande par le nord de I'Ecosse jusqu'a Hull £l I'Est de I'Angleterre.
Dans le cours de ce service, aussi dificile qu' important, il fit plusieurs
captures armees en guerre et detruisit nombre de Vaisseaux Marchands
de I'Ennemi. Ee grand desir du Commandeur etoit d'intercepter la
Flotte Britannique revenant de la Baltique, et par 1&. priver I'Ennemi des
moyens d'equipper leurs Vaisseaux de Guerre. II y a tout lieu de
croire qu'il eut completement effectue ce projet, s'il n'avoit ^te aban-
donne Sur la cote d'Irlande, par une partie considerable de ses forces, et
si sa Fregate le Bon-homme liichard avoit et6 le moins du monde secon-
dee dans son memorable Combat contre le Serapis, Vaisseau a deux
ponts, et contre la Comtesse de Scarborough, Fregate. Mais apres que
le Commandeur eut seul combattu ces deux Vaisseaux pendant une
heure a la distance du pistolet, tandis que le reste de ses forces se tenoit
^ I'abri des coups, malgre I'avantage du vent, V Alliance Fr6gate Ame-
ricaine vint lacher traitreusement trois bordees de mitraille sur le Bon-
homme Richard. Durant toute I'aflfaire, V Alliance eut soin de ne pas
s'exposer a recevoir un seul coup ni a avoir un seul homme de tue ou
blesse a son bord. Ee Bon-homme Richard fut pendant trois heures
accroche au Serapis, et apres le Combat, qui dura quatre heures, coula
bas, crible de coups comme jamais vaisseau ne I'avoit ete jusque-la. Ee
combat se donnant a une lieue de navigation de Scarborough, il ne fut
pas possible dans les circonstances ci-dessus mentionnees, d'empecher

151

152 Letters

I'entree de ce Port au Convoi Knnemi, qui s'y mit en surete. Le
Commandeur entra au Texel avec le rdsidu de son Escadre et ses deux
dernieres prises le 3 Octobre 1779. I^a moitie des Equipages tant du
Bonhomme Richard que du Serapis, ayant ^te tuee ou blessee, le
Commandeur s'adressa &, Eeurs Hautes Puissances pour la permission
d'6tablir un hopital au Helder, afin d'y pouvoir guerir les blesses: mais
la magistrature du lieu s'y opposant, leurs Hautes Puissances assignerent
a cet efEet le Fort du Texel; et comme le Commandeur eut la permission
de garnisonner ce Fort par un Detachement de ses soldats, il expedia
la Commission, pour autant de tems que de raison, de Commandant de la
Place &. I'un de ses officiers. I,a Flotte combinee etant rentree a Brest,
les Anglois revenus de la terreur d'une invasion dont ils s'etoient vus
menaces, firent ^clater toute leur animosite centre le Commodore.
L'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre a la Haye, par des Memoires reiteres aux
Etats-G6n^raux, ne cessa de reclamer peremptoirement la restitution du
Vaisseau de Guerre et de la Fregate pris par le Commandeur et d'exiger
en outre que Pirate Paul Jones Ecossais Mt livre au Roi son Maitre.
Cette demarche de I'Ambassadeur ne lui reussissant pas, il fit tout ce
qu'il put aupres des Magistrats et Particuliers d' Amsterdam, pour qu'on
mit la main sur la personne du Commodore et qu'on le lui livrat; mais
en vain: personne n'eut la bassesse ou la hardiesse de se preter a ses
desirs a cet egard. — Ees Anglois detacherent plusieurs Escadres legeres
pour intercepter le Commandeur. Deux de ces Escadres croisoient con-
tinuellement &, la vue du Texel et du Vlie; tandis que d'autres etoient
stationnees de maniere a leur faire croire qu'il etoit impossible qu'il plit
leur ^chapper. E'objet de la Cour de France en faisant entrer le Com-
mandeur au Texel, etoit qu'il escortat de la a Brest une nombreuse
Flotte chargee de materiaux pour I'arsenal de ce Port; mais sa position
rendit ce service impraticable, surtout des que le ministre n'eut pas
so in de tenir la chose secrete. — Ea situation du Commandeur au Texel
fixoit deji I'attention de toute I'Europe, et affectoit profondement la
politique des Puissances belligerantes. Mais cette position devint infi-
niment plus critique lorsque le Prince d' Orange &ta le Commandement
de 1' Escadre HoUandoise qui 6toit de 13 Vaisseaux de Guerre, a M.
Riemersma, et envoy a le Vice-Amiral Rhynsf pour lui succeder et
expulser le Commandeur du Texel, &. la vue des Escadres Britanniques. —
Ceci engagea la Cour de Versailles a envoyer a I'Ambassadeur de France
5. la Haye une Commission de sa Maj. Tr. Chr. pour le commandeur,
qui I'autorisoit a arborer le Pavilion de France. Mais a cela le Comman-
deur n'y voulut point consentir: il avoit fait sa Declaration en arrivant,
d'oflScier des Etats-Unis: il n'etoit point autorise du Congres a accepter
la Commission offerte: enfin il concevoit qu'il seroit deslionorant et desa-
vantageux, tant pour lui-meme que pour I'Am^rique de changer de

oPieter Hendrik Reynst, vice-admiral of the navy of Holland. — COMPII^BR.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 153

Pavilion, Vli surtout les circonstances. — Except^ la Fregate V Alliance,
tout le reste de I'Escadre du Commandeur appartenoit a Sa Maj. Tr.
Chr. et I'Ambassadeur de France avoit par consequent, le droit d'en
disposer. — Le Ministre Americain a Paris envoya ordre au Commandeur
de livrer tous ses Prisonniers ^ I'Ambassadeur de France, et pour obeir
a cet ordre, le Commandeur flit reduit &. lui livrer aussi le Serapis et La
Comtesse de Scarborough, parceque les autres Vaisseaux ne pouvoient con-
tenir le grand nombre des Prisonniers. — Le Commandeur continua done
de d6ployer le Pavilion Americain a bord de V Alliance, et des que le
vent I'elit permis, le Vice-Amiral, apres avoir deja rendu le Sejour du
Commandeur au Texel aussi desagreable qu'il avoit pu, I'obligea de
faire voile dans cette Fregate. — Le Commandeur eut I'adresse et le bon-
heur d'echapper S, I'aviditd de I'ennemi, et les Anglois enrages de tout
cela, et aussi de ce que les Etats-Generaux avoient accorde une escorte
pour la Flotte qui portoit des matieres na vales du Texel a Brest, declare-
rent peu apres la guerre aux Pays-Bas-unis: ils se servirent meme du
sejour et de la Conduite du Commandeur au Texel pour en faire le
premier article de leur Declaration. Les faits qu'on vient de lire sont
de notoriete publique par toute I'Europe; et mon motif en donnant ce
temoignage a I'Amerique en faveur du Commandeur, precede du desir
de rendre justice a Son Zele et a sa bonne conduite, pour I'honneur et
les interets des Etats-Unis dans les affaires parvenues plus immediate-
ment que d'autres a ma connoissance. A. La Haye, ce 10 Mars 1784.

(Signe) E. F. Van Berckei..

Je soussigne connoissant non seulement I'exacte v^rite de tout ce que
dessus, mais ayant de plus du etre officiellement present pendant pres de
trois mois sur I'Escadre Americaine en rade au Texel, I'atteste avec
plaisir. X La Haye ce 11' Mars 1784.

(Signe) C. W F. Dumas,

Agent des Etats-Unis d'Amerique.

LETTER TO ROBERT MORRIS

[From autograph draft in the I,ibrary of Congress.]

Phii,adei<phia, {October 10, i'/83P\''
Sir : It is the custom of nations, on the return of peace, to honor,
promote and reward such officers as have served through the war
with the greatest "zeal, prudence and intrepidit}'". And since my
country has, after an eight years' war, attained the inestimable blessing
of peace and the sovereignty of an extensive empire, I presume that, (as
I have constantly and faithfully served through the Revolution, and at
the same time supported it, in a degree, with my purse,) I may be
allowed to lay my grievances before you, as the head of the marine. I
will hope, sir, through you, to meet with redress from Congress.

Rank, which opens the door to glory, is too near the heart of everj'
man of true military feeling , to be given up in favor of any other man
who has not, by the achievement of some brilliant action, or by known
and superior abilities, merited such preference. If this be so, how must
I have felt, since, by the second table of captains in the navy, adopted
by Congress, on the loth of October, 1776, I was superseded in favor of
thirteen persons, two of whom were my junior lieutenants at the begin-
ning ; the rest were only commissioned into the_ continental navy on that
day ; and, if they had any superior abilities, these were not then known,
nor have since been proved! I am the eldest sea officer (except Captain
"Whipple) on the Journal, and under the commission of Congress, remain-
ing in the service. In the year 1775, when the navy was established,
some of the gentlemen by whom I am superseded, were applied to, to
embark in the first expedition, but they declined. Captain Whipple has
lately and often told me, they said to him, "they did not choose to be
hanged' ' . It is certain the hazard at first was very great ; and some
respectable gentlemen, by whom I am superseded, accepted the appoint-
ment of captain and of lieutenant of a provincial vessel for the protec-
tion of the river, after our first little fleet had sailed from it ; and on
board of which they had refused to embark, though I pretend not to know
their reason. But the face of affairs having changed, as we ripened into
the declaration of independence in 1776, their apprehensions subsided;
and in a letter I received from the late Mr. Hewes, of Congress, and of the
marine committee, dated at Philadelphia, May the 26th, 1776, and directed

aThis date is assigned to this paper by Mr. Charles Henry Lincoln in the Calendar
of John Paul Jones Manuscripts in the Library of Congress. — Compiler.

155

156 Letters

to me as captain of the Providence, at New York, he says, ' ' You would be
surprised to hear what a vast number of applications are continually
making for officers in the new frigates, especially for the command. The
strong recommendations from those provinces where any frigates are
building, have great weight". He adds, " My utmost endeavors shall
be exerted to serve you ; from a conviction that your merit entitles you
to promotion, and that you ought to command some who were placed in
a higher rank than yourself '

I ask, sir, did these " recommendations" plead more successfully than
the merit of all the gallant men who first braved the ocean in the cause
of America? Your candor must answer, "yes". What a hapless pros-
pect then have those, who can only claim from past, though applauded
services ! Credit, it is alleged, has been, however, taken in this Revo-
lution for "unparalleled heroism". I am sorry for it, for great as our
pretensions to heroism may be, yet modesty becomes young nations as
well as young men. But the first beginning of our navy was, as navies
now rank, 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 brigantines and one armed sloop, to
make war against such a power as Great Britain ? They had, perhaps,
in proportion to their numbers, as much sense as the present table of
officers can boast of ; and it has not yet been proved, that they did not
understand, at least as well their duty.

Their first expedition was more glorious than any other that has been
since effected from our coast. Every officer on that service merited pro-
motion, who was capable of receiving it. And, if there was an improper
man placed over them as commander-in-chief, was that a reason to slight
or disgrace the whole corps? Has the subsequent military conduct of
those officers, by whom the first corps of sea officers were superseded,
justified the preference they had to command the new frigates? If it
has not, what shall we say in favor of the precedence, which "Repug-
nant to an Act of Congress, of the 22d of December, 1775 ", and contrary
to all rule or example, was given them in the second table of naval rank,
adopted the loth of October, 1776? Could anything have been more
humilitating than this to sea officers appointed and commissioned in
1775? Would it not have been more kind to have dismissed them from
the service, even without assigning a reason for so doing? Before any
second arrangement of naval rank had been made, perhaps it would
have been good policy to have commissioned five or seven old mariners,
who had seen war, to have examined the qualifications of the candidates,
especially those who made their conditions and sought so earnestly after
the command of the new frigates. Those commissioners might also have
examined the qualifications of the first corps of sea officers, proposed to
promote such as were capable of it, and struck from the list such as

John Paul Jones Commemoration 157

were unequal to the commission they bore, &c. Thus, by giving pre-
cedence in rank to all the captains who had served and were thought
worthy of being continued ; and also to all lieutenants whose merit and
services with their approved qualifications had entitled them to promo-
tion to the rank of captains, justice might have been done both to indi-
viduals and to the public. It has been said, with a degree of contempt,
by some of the gentlemen who came into the continental navy, the
second year of the war, that I ' ' was only a lieutenant at the beginning ' ' ;
and pray, what were they when I was out on the ocean in that character?
They pay me a compliment. To be diffident, is not always a proof of
ignorance, but sometimes the contrary. I was offered a captain's com-
mission at the first, to command the Providence , but declined it. lyCt it,
however, be remembered, that there were three grades of sea lieutenants
established by the Act of Congress of the 22d of December, 1775; and as
I had the honor to be placed at the head of the first of those grades, it is
not quite fair to confound me with the last; 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. However, I by no means admit, that any one of the
gentlemen who so earnestly sought after rank and the command of the
new frigates the next year, was at the beginning able to teach me any
part of the duty of a sea officer. Since that time it is well known, there
has been no comparison between their means of acquiring military marine
knowledge and mine.

If midnight study, and the instruction of the greatest and most
learned sea officers, can have given me advantages, I am not without
them. I confess, however, I am 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 service on
which our frigates have generally been employed) affords, I may say,
no part of the knowledge necessary for conducting fleets and their opera-
tions. There is 7iow, perhaps, as much difference between a single battle
between two ships, and an engagement between two fleets, as there is
between a single duel and a ranged battle between two armies. I became
captain by right of service and succession, and by the order and com-
mission of the commander-in-chief, his Excellency Ezek Hopkins, Esq.,
the loth day of May, in the year 1776, at which time the captain of the
Providence was broke and dismissed from the navy, by a court martial.
Having arrived at Philadelphia, with a little convoy from Boston, soon
after the declaration of independence, President Hancock gave me a
captain's commission under the United States, dated the 8th da}- of
August, 1776. I did not at the time, think that this was doing me jus-
tice, as it did not correspond with the date of ray appointment by the
commander-in-chief. It was, however, I presumed, the Jirst naval com-
mission granted under the United States, and as a resolution of Congress

158 Letters

had been passed the 17th day of April, 1776, "that the appointment of
captains should not determine their rank, which was to be settled before
commissions were granted," my commission of the 8th of August, must,
by that resolution, take rank of every commission dated the loth of
October. My duty brought me again to Philadelphia in April, 1777;
and President Hancock then told me that new naval commissions were
ordered to be distributed to the officers.

He prayed me to show him the captain's commission he had given me
the year before. I did so. He then desired me to leave it with him a day
or two, till he could find a leisure moment to fill up a new commission. I
made no difficulty. When I waited on him the day before my depar-
ture, to my great surprise, he put into my hands a commission dated the
loth day of October, 1776, and numbered eighteen in the margin! I
told him that was not what I expected, and demanded my former com-
mission. He turned over various papers on the table and at last told
me he was very sorry to have lost or mislaid it. I shall here make no
remark on such conduct in a president of congress, perhaps it needs
none. He paid me many compliments on the services I had performed
in vessels of little force; he assured me no officer stood higher in the
opinion of Congress than myself; a proof of which, he said, was my late
appointment to the command of secret expeditions, with five sail and men
proportioned, against St. Kitts, Pensacola, Augustine, &c.

That the table of naval rank that had been adopted the loth of Octo-
ber, 1776, had been drawn up in a hMxry, and without well knowing the
different merits and qualifications of the officers; but it was the intention
of Congress to render impartial justice and always to honor, promote
and reward merit. And, as to myself, he added that I might depend on
receiving a very agreeable appointment soon after my return to Boston,
and until I was perfectly satisfied respecting my rank, I should have a
separate command. I returned to Boston and it was not long before I
received orders to proceed to Europe to command the great frigate build-
ing at Amsterdam for the United States, then called the Indien and
since the South Carolina. It was proposed I should proceed to France
in a ship belonging to that kingdom; but, some difficulties arising, the
sloop of war Ranger, of eighteen guns, was put under my command for
that purpose and to serve afterwards as a tender to the Indien. Political
reasons defeated the plan, after I had met our commissioners at Paris,
agreeable to their order, to consult on the ways and means of carrying
it into execution. I returned in consequence to Nantes, and reassumed
the command of the Ranger. When I returned from Europe and
my sovereign told the world that some of my military conduct on the
coast of England had been "attended with circumstances so brilliant as to
excite general applarise and admiration ; " when the honours conferred on
me by his most christian majesty, to wit, a gold sword, on which is
impressed the highly flattering words: " Vindicati Maris Ludovicus XVI.

fohn Paul fones C o mm e m o r at i o ii 159

Remunerator Strenuo Vindici," and emblems of the alliance between the
United States and France, accompanied with the order and patent of mili-
tary merit, and a very strong and particular letter of recommendation to
Congress in my behalf, were declared by them to be " highly acceptable ; ' '
when I was thought worthy of a vote of thanks and general approbation so

strong and comprehensive, as that hereto subjoined, in Paper No. .

I was far from thinking that such expressions were all the gratification
I had to expect. The committee of Congress, to whom was referred my
general examination by the board of admiralty, with the report of that
board thereon, were of opinion that I had merited a gold medal, with
devices declarative of the vote of thanks, I had received from the United
States in Congress assembled. And I was persuaded that I should also
be promoted, or at least restored to the place I held in the naval line of
rank in the year 1775. I waited patiently for some time, but nothing
was done on either of these subjects. Being informed by some members
of Congress, that it was necessary I should present my claim respecting

rank in writing, I did so, in a letter of which No. is a copy,

addressed to his excellency the president of Congress, the 28th of May,
1781. My application was referred to a special committee who, as I
have been informed by one of its members, made a report in my favor
and gave as their opinion that I had merited to be promoted to the rank
of rear-admiral. Before Congress had taken up the report an application
in opposition to me was made by two of the captains who had superseded
me. Upon this the report was recommitted. The committee once more
reported in my favour ; but without giving a direct opinion respecting
my promotion, and recommended the appointment of a commander-in-
chief of the navy, &c. , as may be seen by the annexed copy. No. ,

of that report; which, on account of the thinness of Congress, was on
the 24th of August, 1 78 1, endorsed "Not to be acted upon" It is,
however, plain, it was intended to be taken up again, when a proper
opportunity presented itself ; otherwise it would not have been retained
on the files of Congress. This appears also by the extract of a letter.

No. . which I wrote from Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, and

the answer, No. , that I received from the honourable John

Mathews, Esq., who was chairman of the committee respecting the
honorary medal, and a member of the committee on my rank. "While
my claim to rank stood recommitted before the committee, I had an
unanimous election by ballot in Congress, the 26th of June, 1781, to
command the America, of 74 guns; and, as I was erroneously informed,
ready to launch at Portsmouth; [and] several of the members of Con-
gress told me as their opinion, that my rank was thereby settled beyond
a dispute ; because the America was the only ship in the service ' ' of
forty guns and upwards;" and Congress had resolved that captains
of ships of 40 guns and upwards should rank as colonels, and captains of
ships between 20 and 40 guns as lieutenant-colonels. There appeared

i6o Letters

so much reason and justice in that opinion, that I was then and am still
inclined to believe it was not without foundation ; for certainly there is
no comparison between the trust reposed in a captain of the line and
a captain of a frigate ; and, except in England, there is no equality
between their distinct ranks. A captain of the line must at this day be a
tactician. A captain of a cruising frigate may make shift without having
ever heard of naval tactics. Until I arrived in France, and became
acquainted with that great tactician Count D'Orvilliers and his judicious
assistant the Chevalier Du Pavillion, who each of them honoured me
with instructions respecting the science of governing the operations and
police of a fleet, I confess I was not sensible how ignorant I had been,
before that time, of naval tactics.

I have already said, there were three grades of sea lieutenants, estab-
lished by the act of Congress, of the 22d of December, 1775. If I may
be allowed at this date to judge, it would be sound wisdom to re-adopt
the same number of subaltern grades, exclusive of midshipmen, under
the same, or some other denomination. 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 captain 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 constitu-
tion, joined to another of equal magnitude, which authorizes ensigns of
the navy to take charge of a watch on board ships of the line. One
instance may be sufl&cient to shew this. The ZSIS, in the night between
the nth and 12th of April, 1782, ran on board the Ville 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
Zel6 been at the time commanded by a steady experienced lieutenant of
the line, instead of a young ensign. The charge of the deck of a ship
of the line, should in my judgement never be entrusted to an ofiBcer
under twenty-five years of age. At that time of life he may be sup-
posed 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 thej' 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 grades than midshipman and lieutenant. Would it
not be 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 shall here limit myself to one, which I think a preliminary to
the formation and establishment of a naval constitution suitable to the
local situation, resources, and prejudices of the Continent. The con-
stitution adopted for the navy in the year 1775 and by which it

John Paul fones Commemoration i6i

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 possess, is in my
humble opinion necessary to the formation of such a naval constitu-
tion as is absolutely 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 arrangement, or rather derangement of rank in 1776,
much money may be thrown away to little or no purpose. We are
a j'oung people, and need not be ashamed to ask advice from nations
older and more experienced in marine affairs than ourselves. This I
conceive might be done in a manner that would be received as a com-
pliment b}' 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
government of our marine, the establishment and police of our dock-
yards, academies, hospitals, &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 Marquis de Vaudreuil to
propose to you to lay my ideas on the subject before Congress, and to pro-
pose 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 commercial advantages,
&c. And then to ask permission to visit their marine arsenals, to be
informed 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 are paid, &c. The
line of conduct drawn between the officers of the fleet, and officers of
the ports, &c. Also the armament and equipment of the different ships
of war with their dimensions, the number and qualities of their officers
and men, by what police thay 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, academies, hospitals, &c. If yo\x still
object to my projects on account of the expense of sending a frigate
to Europe and 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 evolution. 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 mathe-
matics and mechanics, when off duty. When in port the young officers
should be obliged to attend at the academies established 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,
7257—07 II

i62 Letters

and every commission ofl&cer 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 expense, and the public advantage
resulting from it would be immense. I am sensible it cannot be imme-
diately adopted, and that we must first look about for ways and means ;
but the sooner it is adopted the better. We cannot, like the ancients,
build a fleet in a month, and ought to take example from what has
lately befallen Holland.

In time of peace it is necessary to prepare, and be always prepared for
war by sea. I have had the honor 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 I 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
myself with good authors, I applied much of my leisure time to the
study of naval architecture and other matters, that relate to the estab-
lishment and police of dock-yards &c. (I, however, feel myself bound
to say again, I have yet much need to be instructed). But if, such as I
am, it is thought I can be useful in the formation of the future marine
of America, and make whole my honour, I am so truly a citizen of the
United States, that I will cheerfully do my best to effect that great
object. It was my fortune, as the senior of the first lieutenants, to
hoist, myself, the flag of America the first time it was displayed.
Though this was but a light circumstance, yet I feel for its honour
more than I think I should have done if it had not happened. See

Paper No. . I drew my sword at the beginning, not after having

made si7iister conditwis but purely from principle in the glorious cause
of freedom; which I trust has been amply evinced by my conduct during
the Revolution. I hope I shall be pardoned in saying, it will not now
be expected, after having fought and bled for the purpose of contribut-
ing to make millions happy and free that I should remain miserable and
dishonoured by being superseded, without any just cause assigned.

Though I have only mentioned two things that afflict me, the delay of
a decision respecting my rank, and the honorary medal, yet I have met
with many other humiliations in the service, that I have borne in silence.
I will just mention one of them. When the America was presented to
his most Christian Majesty, I presume it would not have been incon-
sistent with the dignity of that act of my sovereign, if it had mentioned
my name. Such little attentions to the military pride of officers are
always of use to a state, and cost nothing. In the present instance, it
could have been no displeasing circumstance, but the contrarj', to a
monarch who condescends to honour me with his attention. I appeal to
yourself, sir, whether, after being unanimously elected to command the
first and only American ship of the line, my conduct, for sixteen months
while inspecting her building and launching, had merited only such cold

John Paul Jones Commemoration 163

neglect? When the America was taken from me, I was deprived of my
tenth command. Will posterity beHeve, that out of this number the
sloop of war Ranger was the best I was ever enabled by my country to
bring into actual service? If I have been instrumental in giving the
American flag some reputation and making it respectable among Euro-
pean nations, will you permit me to say, that it is not because I have
been honoured, by my country, either with the proper means or proper
encouragemeyit. I cannot conclude this letter without reminding you of
the insult offered to the flag of America, by the court of Denmark, in
giving up to England, towards the end of the year 1779, two large letter
of marque ships (the one the Union from London, the other the Betsy,
from Liverpool) that had entered the port of Bergen, in Norway, as
my prizes. Those two ships mounted 22 guns each, and were valued, as
I have been informed, at sixteen hundred thousand livres Tournois. I
acquit myself of my duty in giving you this information now when the
sovereignty and independence of America is acknowledged by Great
Britain, and I trust Congress will now demand and obtain proper
acknowledgments and full restitution from the court of Denmark.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, sir, your most
obedient and most humble servant."

[Endorsement]

J. P. Jones to the U. S. Minister of Marine Hon Robt. Morris.

oThis paper is unsigned. The signature "J. Paul Jones" is appended to a similar,
but abridged, letter of October 10, 1783, printed by R. C. Sands in "L,ife and Cor-
respondence of John Paul Jones," New York, 1830, pp. 304-309. — Compii,ER.

LETTER TO MRS. BELCHES

[From original, in possession of Edinburgh Antiquarian Society.]

Paris, August 2p, ij86.
Madam : It is with great pleasure that I now execute the flattering
commission you gave me before you left this city. Sir James Stuart,
who returns immediately to Scotland, does me the honor to take charge
of the Medallion you desired I might send you. I am unable to say
whether it is well or ill executed, but, I feel, it receives its value
from your acceptance: an honor for which I can never sufficiently
express my obligation, but which it will always be my ambition to merit.
My respectful compliments await your husband. I am very sensible of
his polite attentions while here.

May you always enjoy a state of Happiness, as real as is the esteem
and respect with which I have the honor to be, Madam,
Your most obedient and most humble Servant

J. Paxil, Jones.
Mrs. Belches, Scotland.
164

.'. V-<^.u^^Uj'^lf2^;

i-^-./a.'^-'-- — . -V- .*. ■*. •■ —

'UlMlU

M'^ '^jjclui _ ./C^Q

FACSIMILE OF LETTER TO MRS. BELCHES,

Froin photograph of original iu possebsion of Edinburgh Antiquarian Society, furnished by
Capt. John S. Barnes. (Scale, two-thirds of originaL)

..^^.^ ^1/ ..-/e^- ^^-^ -^■' ^^ •--^=^- ^"

v.HA iviEOALLION PRESENTED TO MRS. BELCHES IN 1786.

from photograph of origiual in possession of Edinburgli Aiitiqimriau Society, furuishcd Ijy
Capt. John S. Barnes.

IV. CHRONOLOGY

[Numbers at right of page denote references, see pp. 186-193.]

1747, July 6. Born at Arbigland, Scotland i

1759 to . Apprenticed. Went to sea on the Friendship 2

Visited his brother, William Paul, in Virginia 3

Made voyage as third mate of slaver King George 4

1766. Chief mate of the Two Friends, of Kingston, Jamaica 5

1768. Returned to Scotland in tint John 6

Made master and supercargo of the John ; sailed for the West

Indies 7

1770, Aug. 5. Wrote from St. George, Granada, to Mr. Craik regarding his

private business, his ship, and the care of his mother 8

1770, Nov. 27. Made a Freemason [entered apprentice] St. Bernard's Lodge,

Kilwinning No. 122. Kirkcudbright, Scotland 9

1771, Apr. I. Date of certificate of high approval from owners of the John.

Same year visited his family in Scotland for last time 10

1772, June 30. Date of affidavit sworn to before Governor Young, of Tobago,

exonerating Jones from charges made against him 11

1772, Sept. 24. In London. Wrote to his mother and sisters; enclosed copy

of affidavits establishing his innocence in the case of Mungo

Maxwell 12

1772. Commanded the Betsey 13

1773. J3-11- 3°- Evidence in Jones's behalf given before Mayor of London. ... 14

1773. In Virginia 15

Assumed the name of Jones in North Carolina 16

1774. Jones's brother, William Paul, died. Date taken from tomb-

stone in St. George's Churchyard, Fredericksburg, Va.

William Paul's will dated 1772 17

1775. Apr. 25. Wrote to Joseph Hewes, Robert Morris, and Thomas Jefferson

desiring a naval appointment 18

1775, May — . Visited French -ship Terpsichore, Commodore Kersaint, in

Hampton Roads. Met Louis Philippe, Egalit^ 19

I77S> June 24.0 Marine Committee desired Jones's views on naval affairs 20

1775, July i8.a Appeared before the committeeat Philadelphia 21

177s. Aug. 2$.a Requested by Marine Committee to fit out the Alfred 22

1775. Sept. 14, Sent, through Hon. Joseph Hewes, replies to inquiries from

or Oct. 3.0 Congress on naval affairs 23

1775, Dec. 3. "B. P." wrote to Earl Dartmouth that the " Continental flag

was this day hoisted on the Black Prince [later the Alfred^

at Philadelphia " 24

oBuell, "Paul Jones, Founder of the American Navy." These statements are not
supported by the Journals of the Continental Congress. — Compii,kr.

165

1 66

C h rono logy

1775, Dec. 7. Jones appointed first of the first lieutenants in the Continental

Navy by Congress. Ordered to the Alfred 25

1775, Dec. 22. Appointments of December 7 confirmed by Congress 26

1775. Dec. — . Offered command of the /yoOT'affWff or /^/^. Preferred remain-
ing on the Alfred 27

1775, Dec. — . Hoisted the American flag on the Alfred, flagship of Com-
or mander-in-Chief Esek Hopkins. (Entry above, No. 24,

1775, Jan. — . indicates December 3 as the date) 28

1776, Feb. 9. Commodore Hopkins's fleet sailed from Philadelphia under

the ' ' Union flag " as used by General Washington at Cam-
bridge. Jones first lieutenant of flagship Alfred 29

1776, Feb. 17. The fleet left the Delaware on expedition 30

1776, Mar. I. Fleet anchored off Abaco. Jones piloted the ^//?'i?a? into New

Providence 31

1776, Mar. 17. Fleet sailed from New Providence with captured military

stores and the governor and other important prisoners 32

4-5. Schooner Hawk and bomb brig Bolton captured 33

6. Alfred 3.'a.& Cabot ^vl^&^&A.'Cpl^ Glasgow. She escaped. Hop-
kins's squadron put into New London 34

14. Jones wrote Honorable Mr. Hewes account of the expedition.

Sent extract from log of the Alfred 35

I. Ordered to attend the coiurt-martial of Captain Whipple, cap-
tain of the Alfred 36

10. Jones ordered by Hopkins to command the Providence 37

18. Providence arrived off New York 38

19. Jones explained to Hewes reasons for declining the command
of the Fly\ says new commission has not been sent him. ... 39

6. Desired command of one of the new ships being constructed

by order of Congress 1 . . . . 40

10. In obedience to Commodore Hopkins's order, pursued an

armed sloop in sight off New London. She escaped 41

13. Ordered to convoy the Fly and other vessels carrying Gov-
ernment supplies 42

18. Ordered to Boston by Hopkins 43

20. Colonel Tillinghast requested by Jones to get his private Log
of the Alfred from that ship and send it to him 44

I. Arrived in the Delaware with convoy from Boston 45

8. Received a captain's commission from the President of Con-
gress. "The first naval commission under the United

States," or "since the Declaration of Independence " 46

Marine Committee proposed to Jones the command of the

Hampden; he chose to remain on the Providence 47

i5. Ordered to watch for French vessel with supplies 48

21. Sailed from the Delaware with orders to "cruise against

enemy for six weeks or more " 49

1776, Sept. I. After a sharp action escaped from the British frigate Solebay,
near Bermuda. Later encountered and escaped from the

Milford, off Cape Sable 50

1776, Sept. 3 Captured off northeast coast of America, 16 vessels, destroyed
to Sept. 28. fishery at Canso and shipping at Isle Madame. Sent in 8

prizes, burned 8 51

List of prizes 52

1776, Apr.
1776, Apr.

1776, Apr.

1776, May

1776, May
1776, May
1776, May

1776, June

1776, June

1776, June

1776, June
1776, June

1776, Aug.
1776, Aug.

1776, Aug.
1776, Aug.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 167

1776, Oct. 7. Arrived at Newport, R. I., in the Providence 53

1776, Oct. 10. Commissioned captain in the Continental Navy (new list

made by Congress: Jones No. 18) 54

1776, Oct. 17. Wrote Robert Morris an account of cruise. Made suggestions

for improvement of the Navy and plans for an expedition

against enemy's African trade 55

1776, Oct. 22. Took command of expedition to Cape Breton 56

1776, Oct. 27. The Hampden disabled, had to put back 57

1776, Nov. 2. Jones sailed with the Alfred and Providence 58

1776, Nov. 10. Captured brig Active off Louisburg 59

1776, Nov. 13. Captured transport Ulellish, with 10,000 suits of uniform.

Took 150 prisoners 60

1776, Nov. 16. Captured ship Hetty 61

1776, Nov. 18. The Providence parted company from Alfred in the night. . . 62
1776, Nov. 24 Captured 5 vessels, one a privateer of 16 guns. Destroyed a
to Nov. 30. transport, ashore at Canso Straits. Burned buildings at Isle

Royale 63

1776, Dec. 7. Chased by frigate Milford; escaped with loss of only one of

the prizes 64

1776, Dec. 10 Arrived at Boston 65

or Dec. 15.

1777) Jan. 12. Explained to Mr. Hewes failure to release the Americans at

Cape Breton coal mines 66

1777. Jan. 14. Superseded by Hinman in command of ^c Alfred, by order of

Commodore Hopkins 67

I777> Jan. 21. Protested to Marine Committee against this injustice 68

1777, Feb. 5. Marine Committee ordered Jones to command a fleet of six

vessels for an expedition to Pensacola 69

1777, Feb. 10. Wrote Robert Morris concerning the Navy 70

1777, Mar. 17. Appointed by Congress to command one of the three ships

purchased "until a better can be had " 71

1777, Mar. 25. Ordered to Boston to select and fit out a ship 72

1777, Apr. 7. At request of President of Congress submitted plans for organi-
zation and government of Navy 73

1777, Apr. 19. Met Da Fayette in Alexandria, Va 74

1777, May 4. Detter to Mr. Mawey regarding money due him and care of

his mother. Written from Boston 75

1777, May 9. Ordered to proceed to France in ^wi/AzMViT. To take officers
and men to man a fine ship to be purchased for him in

Europe. Letter to Commissioners in Paris 76

1777, May 23. In Boston, shipped men for Amptiitrite 77

1777, May 26. Wrote to the ' ' Secret committee " 78

1777, June 14. Ordered to command the Ranger, first called the Hampsliire,
building at Portsmouth, N. H.; and Stars and Stripes

adopted as National ensign by act of Congress 79

1777, June 18. Appointment to the j^aK^^r sent by Marine Committee 80

1777. July I. 2. Orders received by Jones at Boston 81

1777, July 4. Stars and Stripes hoisted on a United States man-of-war for

first time; the Ranger, or the Raleigh. 82

1777, July 12. Jones announces to Captain Roach, former commander of

Ranger, his arrival at Portsmouth and his orders 83

1777, July 29. Directions to Dieut. Elijah Hall regarding men's pay 84

1777, Aug. 2. Advertised for crew for Ranger 85

i68 Chronology

ilTJ, Sept. 6. Ordered by Marine Committee to proceed to France to report
to the Commissioners. The Indien, at Amsterdam, prom-
ised him 86

1777, Oct. 29 Reported to Marine Committee the many hindrances in fitting

or 30. the Ranger for sea. Will sail ' ' with first favorable wind " . . 87

1777, Nov. I. The Ranger sailed from Portsmouth, N. H 88

1777, Nov. 26. Captured two brigs (Green says 23d and 25th) 89

1777, Dec. 2. Anchored off Nantes. Forwarded papers to Paris 90

1777, Dec. 5. Jones visited the Commissioners at Paris 91

1777, Dec. II. Gave a detailed account of voyage in letter to Jacob Wendell . . 92

1778, Jan. 10. Commissioners directed an advance of 500 louis d'or to be

paid Jones for expenses of ship 93

1778, Jan. 16. Commissioners give Jones "unlimited orders" 94

1778, Feb. I. Fired 13 guns in honor of Mr. Thomas Morris, Continental

agent at Nantes, recently deceased 95

1778, Feb. 12. Ranger sailed from Nantes for Quiberon Bay 96

1778, Feb. 13. Anchored in Quiberon Bay at 7 p. m. (or 6 p. m.) 97

1778, Feb. 14. Received from Admiral I^a Motte Piquet, commanding French
squadron, first salute to the Stars and Stripes from a foreign

power. Gave 13 and received 9 guns 98

1778, Feb. 15. Sailed through the French fleet in the American brig Inde-
pendence, Captain John Young; saluted the French squadron

with 13 guns and received 9 in return 99

1778, Feb. 22. Informed the Marine Committee of exchanging salutes 100

1778, Mar. 3. Sailed from Quiberon Bay loi

1778, Mar. 8. Anchored in Camaret Bay 102

1778, Mar. 23. Sailed up to Brest. Exchangedsalutes with French Admiral. . 103
1778, Mar. 25. Wrote Silas Deane and John Ross that he was to receive salute

of gun for gun when leaving Brest 104

1778, Apr. 2. Count d'Orvilliers saluted .ffflw^^r with 10 or 11 guns when

she left Brest, about 5 p. m 105

1778, Apr. 5. Ships forced by bad weather to return to Brest 106

1778, Apr. II Ranger sailed from Brest in company with French frigate

or 10. Fortuna 107

1778, Apr. 14 Captured brig Dolphin oflf Cape Clear 108

or 15.

1778, Apr. 17. Captured ship Lord Chatham; sent her to Brest 109

1778, Apr. 19, Sunk schooner and sloop taken off coast of Ireland no

20.
1778, Apr. 21. Captured a fishing boat. Bad weather prevented surprising

and boarding the Drake, 20 guns in

1778, Apr. 22. Captain Jones and 31 volunteers landed at Whitehaven.

Spiked guns, burnt shipping, including ship Thompson .... 112
1778, Apr. 23. Jones and 12 men landed at St. Marys Isle to capture Earl of
Selkirk. Selkirk, being absent, men took 160 pounds

weight of silver. I/ist of names of landing party 113

1778, Apr. 24. After fight of one hour and five minutes, H. B. M. S. Drake

surrendered to the Ranger 114

1778, Apr. 25. Captured brig /'fl/iVwcf. Let fishing boat go. Buried Captain
Burden, of the Drake, and Lieutenant Wallingsford, of the

Ranger, with military honors 115

1778, Apr. 26. Lieutenant Simpson given command of the Drake. Relieved
of command by Jones because of disobedience of orders. A
brig captured by Ranger 116

John Paul fones Cotnmemoration

169

1778, May 6. I<ieut. Elijah Hall sent on board the Drake to supersede Lieu-
tenant Simpson 117

1778, May 7. Lieutenant Hall ordered to follow 7?a»§'f»' and take the /?ra;4ff

into Brest 118

177S, May 8. The Ranger reentered Brest with the Drake 1 19

Jones wrote Lady Selkirk courteous letter. Will return her

silver. Inventory of silver 1 20

1778, May 9. Reported the result of expedition to American plenipotentia-
ries at Paris 121

1778, May 10. Hoisted Continental colors on the prize Patience 122

1778, May II. Prisoners sent on board the Patience 123

1778, May 27. Reported to Marine Committee actions from April 10 to

May 27 124

1778, May 27. Informed Doctor Bancroft of need of funds for crew, and sur-
prise at the dishonoring of his draft 125

Reports death of Lieutenant Dobbs, R. X., of the Drake 126

Thanked Doctor Franklin for his expressed approval 127

Explained his financial embarrassment; had advanced .^1,500

of his own money; received no wages 128

Submitted plans for combined operations against the British,

to American plenipotentiaries and French minister of marine . 129
Sailing in companj' with the Boston, Capt. S. Tucker, off Isle

Dieu; visited the ship 130

Informed by Doctor Franklin that he is to have the hidien,

building at Amsterdam 131

Proposed to the plenipotentiaries that Lieutenant Simpson
retiurn to America in command of the Ranger. Celebrated

anniversary of independence on Ranger 132

Letter to Mr. Grand regarding qualifications requisite in a

Protestant chaplain for his ship 133

Lieut. Simpson took command of Ranger 134

Informed General Washington that, at the request of the
French minister of marine, he will remain in France. Begs
the General's acceptance of a pair of epaulettes he sends.
Men of Whitehaven expedition recommended to plenipo-
tentiaries 135

1778, Aug. 10. Informed that the plenipotentiaries will recommend to Con-
gress those who took part in the landing at Whitehaven , . . 136

Requested the plenipotentiaries to order a court-martial 137

Capt. Abr. Whipple, of the Providence, requested by Jones to

summon a court-martial to try Lieutenant Simpson 138

Recommends to Congress all who landed at Whitehaven 139

Ranger ran out with a fine breeze 140

Commissioners order court to try Simpson 141

Charges against Simpson withdrawn 142

Having been informed that he can not get the Indien and pre-
vented from going on expedition with Count d'Orvilliers,

asked Sartine's permission to return to America 14J

1778, Sept, 21. Requested the Due de Chartres to aid him in his efforts to get

a ship or some active duty 144

1778, Oct. 16. Ranger arrived at Portsmouth, N. H 145

1778, Oct. 19. Implored King Louis XVI to aid him to get a ship. The

Duchess de Chartres presented the letter 146

1778, Nov. 21. Explanatory letter replying to Jlr, Arthur Lee 147

177S, May
1778, June
1778, June

1778, June

1778, June

1778, June

1778, July

1778, July 12.

1778, July
1778, Aug.

1778,

Aug.

15.

1778,

Aug.

18.

1778,

Aug.

21,

1778,

Aug.

22,

1778,

Sept.

6.

1778,

Sept.

13

I70

C h r n logy

1778, Dec. 17. Jones summoned to audience with the King 148

1779. Feb. 4. The King gave Jones the Duras; to be fitted out and manned

by him. Permission given to change name to Bonhonirne

Richard, in compHment to Doctor Franklin 149

1779, Feb. 6. Jones thanked M. de Sartine for his interest 150

1779, Feb. 10. Doctor Franklin and Hon. J. Adams to Jones regarding his

giving up the Ranger 151

1779, Mar. 6. Jones explained to Benjamin Franklin cause of his trouble

before coming to America 152

1779, Apr. 27. Informed that I,a Fayette is to command Jones's expedition.

Bonhoinnie Richard to be ready May 7 153

1779, Apr. 30. Jones wrote to "Father John" (John Mehegan), chaplain to

Count d'Orvilliers, that he would require a chaplain for the

French of his crew 154

1779, May I. Replied to I,a Fayette that it would be a great pleasure to serve

under his command 155

Thanked Sartine, La Fayette, and Benjamin Franklin 156

1779, May 1-3. Jones in command of Bonhoinme Richard at I'Orient 157

1779, May 9. Informed by Franklin of affairs on the Alliance 158

1779, May II. Captain Landais brings the ^//z'awcf from Nantes to rOrient. 159

1779, May 13. Ordered Landais to prepare the Alliance for sea 160

1779, May 22. La Fayette ordered by King to command a regiment ashore

instead of the fleet 161

I779i June i. Jones wrote and sent money to his sister Elizabeth 162

1779. June 10. Informed by M. de Chaumont regarding the preparation of

the Bonhoinme Richard, her officers and crew 163

1779. June 14, M. De Chaumont sent Jones the " Concordat " 164

3°-
i779> June 19. Bonhomme Richard, Alliance, Pallas, Cerf, Vengeance sailed

from rOrient, under command of Capt. John Paul Jones.

Convoyed French merchant ships and transports with troops 165
1779, June 20. At midnight the Alliance "ran afoul" of the Bonhomme

Richard; carried away latter's jib boom 166

1779, Ju°s 21. The Alliance made prize of a Dutch ship. A privateer cap-
tured, but abandoned; superior force in sight 167

i779i June 23. Jones issued "standing orders" to the fleet 168

1779, June 29, Chased two frigates. Prepared for action ; they stood away.

30. Consulted with his officers as to chasing 169

1779, June 30. Thanked officers and men for efforts on 29th 170

Entered Groix to refit. Ordered to cruise on coast of Ireland. . 171

1779, July I. Reported to Franklin; cruise from June 19 to 30 172

1779) July 4. Celebrated on board the Bonhomme Richard. Fired two

salutes each of 13 guns 173

1779, July 12. Franklin informed that the Bonhomme Richard is too old to

admit of proposed alterations 174

1779, July 26. Would like to have the I\Ionsieur added to fleet. Jamaica

fleet, convoyed by a 50-gun ship and two frigates, may be

encountered I75

1779, July 28. Sent Mr. Lunt and gunner to recruit crew from exchanged

prisoners 176

1779, July 30. Reported sinking at anchor of prize Three Friends 177

1779, Aug. 3. Bonhomme Richard spoken of as having three decks 178

1779, Aug. 7. Mr. Lunt returns with 29 men 179

1779, Aug. 10. Special orders issued to the fleet 180

1779.

Aug.

1779,

Aug.

to

Sept. :

1779,

Aug.

1779.

Sept.

1779.

Sept.

1779.

Sept.

John Paul Jones C mm e7n r a ti o n 171

1779, Aug. 13. Signed the "concordat" on eve of departure i8i

1779, Aug. 14. The fleet, under Jones's command, sailed from Groix. Con-
sisted of Bonhomnie Richard, Alliance, Pallas, Cerf, Ven-
geance, Granville, and Monsieur 182

1779, Aug. 16. Application made by Jones for affiliation with the lodge of

Les Neuf Soeurs, Paris 183

18. Captured the Verwagting. The Monsieur left fleet 184

22 Captured Mayflower, Fortune, Betsey, Union, and i ship, 5

22. brigs, and 5 sloops 185

25. The Cerf Si-nA the Granmlle parted from the fleet 186

17. Letter written to the chief magistrates of Leith 187

Released captured fisherman; gave him a passport 188

— . I/iverpool put in a state of defense 189

23. Captured H. B. M. S. Serapis and Countess of Scarborough
off Flamborough Head, England. After an engagement of
nearly four hours, the Sempis, 44 guns, Capt. Richard Pear-
son, R. N., surrendered to the Bonhomme Richard, Capt.
John Paul Jones. The Countess of Scarborough surrendered
to the Pallas and Alliance. When asked by Captain Pear-
son if he had struck, Jones replied "in a most decided

negative;" or, "I've not yet begun to fight " 190

1779, Sept. 24. Log of the Bonhomme Richard states that the Alliance raked
the Bonhomme Richard fore and aft during the latter part

of the engagement of 23d igi

Jones transferred his crew to and hoisted his flag as Commo-
dore on the captured Serapis 192

Note to log of the U. S. S. Serapis says: "At Yz past 12 at

night (23d) the Serapis colours were hailed down and some

of the Bonhomme Richard's officers and men boarded her." 193

i779i Sept. 25. The Bonhomme Richard sank between 10 and 11 a. m., her

flag flying as she went down. Nothing saved but the signal

flags. Jones's loss "50,000 livres " 194

1779, Sept. 26. Master-at-arms of the Bonhomme Richard put in irons for

liberating prisoners during the fight, September 23d 195

1779, Oct. 3. Jones anchored his squadron and prizes in the Texel 196

1779, Oct. 5. Reported his arrival to French ambassador at The Hague 197

1779, Oct. 6. Captain Pearson, R. X., reported the engagement and his sur-
render on September 23 to the British Admiralty Office 198

1779, Oct. 7. Jones left the ship and went to Amsterdam 199

1779, Oct. 9, 13. Sir Joseph Yorke, British ambassador, requested the Dutch

Government to hold Jones's prizes as English property. . . . 200
1779, Oct. II. Franklin informed by Jones that he will hold Captain Pearson

as hostage for Captain Conyngham's release 201

1779, Oct. 15. Franklin acknowledged receipt of letter of 8th instant. "All
Paris and Versailles praising Jones's victory." Directions
given regarding Landais. Anxiety regarding prisoners
Jones has taken. The prizes sent into Norway arrived safely . 202
1779, Oct. 19. Captain Pearson complained to Jones of his not having visited
him, and wished to know what had been done towards

exchange of prisoners 203

1779, Oct. 20. Jones replied to Pearson, and referred to treatment of Captain
Conyngham in England. Sick and wounded British to have
all the care given to Americans 204

172 Chronology

1779. Oct. 24. Jones wrote to M. de Chaumont regarding the unaccountable
conduct of Landais, September 23d. Thanked M. de Chau-
mont for his kindness 205

1779) Oct. 25. Holland refused to agree to Sir J. Yorke's demands regarding

Jones's prizes; ' ' will observe a strict neutrality " 206

1779. Oct. 30. Charges preferred against Landais, signed by " ofBcers of the
American squadron in the Texel." Sent to plenipotentiaries
at Paris 207

1779, Nov. 4. Jones informed the French minister at The Hague of need of

water and squadron supplies 208

Wrote to French ambassador explaining position. Loss of
French commission and intention to leave the Texel.
British squadron watching for him 209

1779, Nov. 15. Directed by Franklin to turn over to French ambassador at

The Hague all prizes and ships of his fleet but the Alliance . 210

1779, Nov. 21. All American officers and men transferred to the Alliance.
Command of the Serapis turned over to Captain Cottineau
by Jones. Captain Pearson exchanged for Captain Con-
yngham, who was taken on Alliance 211

i779i Dec. i. The Alliance ready, waiting favorable wind to sail 212

1779, Dec. 5. Informed Robert Morris of desire to return to America. Num-
ber on list of October 10, 1776, unsatisfactory 213

1779, Dec. 13. Indignantly declined "letter of marque" commission from

French ambassador at The Hague 214

1779, Dec. 16. Declined to visit Dutch admiral on his ship 215

1779, Dec. 17, Refused to hoist other than American colors on the Alliance.

Waiting for pilot 216

1779, Dec. 27. The Alliance sailed from the Texel. Escaped the British

fleet outside 217

1779) Dec. 28, Sailed past British fleets in the Downs and off Spithead, show-

29. ing American colors 218

1780, Jan. I. Got clear of the British Channel 219

Jones wrote some " Lines" in reply to Miss Dumas 220

1780, Jan. 8, Took two prizes; sunk one and sent one to America 221

12.

1780, Jan. 16. Put into Corunna, Spain, for anchor 222

1780, Jan, 28. Sailed from Corunna, French frigate La Sensible, bound for

Brest, in company. Before sailing visited by governor;

saluted him with 13 guns 223

1780, Feb. 5, Recaptured a French bark from a Guernsey privateer 224

1780, Feb. 10. Alliance arrived at Groix. Convoyed the American merchant

ship Livingston into port. Notified Franklin of arrival and

repairs needed to the Alliance 225

1780, Feb. 13. Reported to Franklin from 1' Orient 226

1780, Feb. 19. Great economy ordered to be observed in refittingthe ^-J/Z/awir.

Four gentlemen have permission to return to the United

States on her. She is to carry arms and ammunition for the

United States Government 227

1780, Feb. 25. Jones replied to Franklin that his wishes shall be complied

with as far as possible 228

1780, Mar. 12, Franklin informed Landais that he would not give him a ship

if he had twenty 229

1780, Apr. II. ^'i ///'«//(<:• ready to sail for America. Arms and supplies for the

American Army all on board. Jones visited Paris 230

John Paul f on e s C o in in c in oration

173

1780, May I. Festival in Jones's honor given by the Masonic Lodge of Les
Neuf Soeurs, Paris. This lodge ordered Jones's bust to be
made by Jean Houdon 231

1780, May Informed that King Louis XVI had awarded him the Order of

Military Merit and a gold sword 232

1780, May 30. The King, through M. de Sartine, commended Jones to the

Continental Congress 233

1780, June I. Letter received by Franklin from the American Board of
Admiralty dated March 28, 1780, desiring the immediate

return of the Alliance 234

Franklin commended Jones to Congress 235

1780, June 13. Jones read his orders to command the Alliance to the crew.
Left for Paris. Landais assumed command of Alliance
against Franklin's orders. Arthur Lee supported Landais's
action 236

1780, June 16. Officers and men desiring to remain with Jones went from the

Alliance to the Ariel, loaned to America hy France 237

1780, June 20. Jones returned from Versailles. Alliance dropped down to

Port Louis 238

1780, June 21. Jones informed Franklin of Landais's refusal to obey orders.
Stated that he had prevented the French forts from firing

on the Alliance, and that she had been towed out 239

Rouel, Parisian artist, desired Jones to sit to him for his
portrait 240

1780, June 22. The Serapis sold at I'Orient for 240,000 livres to the King of

France 241

17S0, June 24. The Alliance sailed for Groix 242

1780, June 25. Commodore Gillen, of South Carolina, visited Jones in regard
to men from South Carolina who had been on the Bon-
homme Richard 243

1780, June 28. M. de Sartine notified Jones that the King would present to
him a gold sword, and the French decoration of the Order
of Military Merit. A packet for Chevalier de Luzerne

intrusted to Jones's care for transportation to America 244

Landais ordered not to sail for America without instructions.
Requested to send So men to assist in equipping the Ariel.
He sent 22 245

1780, June 29. An officer sent to the Alliance for more men contemptuously

treated by Landais 246

1780, July 3. Jones wrote to crew of Alliance 247

1780, July 8. ^-i///a«r(' sailed for America 248

1780, July 21. The gold sword presented to Jones. He is received by the
King at Versailles. Asked Countess de La Vendahl to be
custodian of sword while he was at sea 249

1780, July 24. Wrote to Madame de T. explaining affair between Landais

and himself at I'Orient 250

1780, Aug. 2. The Ariel nearly ready for sea. Jones solicited the interest
of the Count de Maurepas and the Count de Vergennes in
his plans for active operations 251

1780, Aug. 13. The Alliance made Cape Ann 38 days from land to land 252

1780, Aug. 15. Jones informed that Count de ilaurepas would endeavor to

secure vessels and aid for an expedition 253

1780, Aug. 25. Birthday of Louis XVI celebrated on board the .-Iricl at

I'Orient. Two royal salutes fired 254

174 Chronology

1780, Sept. 2. Jones gave a grand entertainment on the Ariel 255

1780, Sept. 5. Ariel moved to outer harbor of Groix 256

1780, Sept. 8. Jones wrote M. Dumas that at next meeting with Captain

Pearson he would ' ' make him a count. ' ' (Most biographies

say ' ' make a loM of him " 257

1780, Sept. 21. Replied to letter (July 5) in which the Countess de La Ven-

dahl declined to be custodian of his sword 258

1780, Oct. 7, The Ariel put to sea 259

1780, Oct. 12. Ariel returned, disabled by storm 260

1780, Oct. 13. Statement of Ariel's officers of disasters caused by storm of

8th, 9th 261

1780, Oct. 26. Franklin notified that all haste will be used to refit Ariel,

and of correspondence with Capt. Thos. Truxtun, of XT. S.

privateer Independence, regarding his right to fly a broad

pennant, contrary to act of Congress October 29, 1776 262

1780, Dec. 4. Ordered by Franklin to proceed to America with dispatches

for Congress. Franklin will use best endeavors to secure

prompt payment of prize money 263

1780, Dec. — . Superb entertainment given on the Ariel. Fight between the

Bonhomme Richard and Serapis represented 264

1780, Dec. 18. The Ariel sailed for Philadelphia 265

1780, Dec. — . In latitude 26°, longitude of Barbados (60°), the Ariel

engaged and received the surrender of the British frigate
Triumph, Capt. John Pindar. She escaped after striking
her colors 266

1781, Feb. 4. ^ri>/ reached Delaware Bay. Col. Henry Fisher, Continental

Army, loaned money to Jones for his officers and crew 267

1781 , Feb. 18. Ariel arrived at Philadelphia 268

1 781, Feb. 19. Jones ordered to attend Congress on February 26 269

1781, Feb. 20. Required by the Board of Admiralty to reply to 47 questions. . 270
1781, Feb. 27. Congress passed resolutions commending Jones. Praised his
brilliant victory. Authorized his acceptance of decoration

of Order of Military Merit from Louis XVI 271

1781, Mar. I. Ariel took part in celebration of ratification of confederation

of the States, held at Philadelphia 272

1781, Mar. 17. Franklin replied to Board of Admiralty, explaining the "Con-
cordat " 273

1781, Mar. 21. Jones sent replies to the 47 questions from the Board of
Admiralty. About this time he was invested with the Order
of Military Merit, became a "Chevalier," and was per-
mitted to wear the decoration. The Chevalier de la Luzerne
gave, at Philadelphia, a grand entertainment in honor of
the event. Board of Admiralty desired Jones's opinion
regarding exchange of prisoners on prison ships at New

York 274

1781, Mar, 28. Board of Admiralty satisfied with Jones's replies; commended

him to Congress 275

1781. "Propheties," etc., "par Paul Jones," published 276

17S1, Apr. 14. Thanks of Congress given to Capt. John Paul Jones, his offi-
cers and men 277

1781, May 15. Letter of congratulation from Gen. George Washington 278

1781, May 28. Jones sent memorial to Congress requesting he be given his

right number on list of captains 279

John Paul Jones Commemoration

175

17S1, July
17S1, July

1 78 1, Aug.

1 78 1, Nov.

1781, Dec.
1 78 1, Dec.

1781, Dec.

1782, May

1782, June

1781, June 26. Made statement to Board of Admiralty of amount of pay due

him from December 7, 1775 (/'i,4oo 5s.) 280

Jones unanimously elected by Congress to command the U. S.
ship-of-the-line America, building at Portsmouth, N. H.
Rank of admiral proposed 281

1781, June 28. Petitioned Congress for an advance on pay due him, to enable

him to pay his debts and proceed to Portsmouth in obedi-
ence to orders 282

Wrote certificate of merit for I,ieut. Richard Dale 283

Congress approved accounts; referred him to the Treasury

Board for payment 284

Deft Philadelphia. Visited General Washington at White

Plains. Reached Portsmouth late in August 285

Jones addressed a public meeting in the town hall, Ports-
mouth, N. H 2S6

Appointed by Congress Day of Thanksgiving 287

Farewell letter from Da Fayette to Jones 288

Jones wrote to "Delia" from Philadelphia 289

Birth of the Dauphin of France announced. All commanding

officers ordered by Congress to celebrate it 290

Jones celebrated the birth of the French Dauphin on board
the U. S. S. America. Supplied guns and powder at his
own expense 291

1782, July 4. Celebrated the Declaration of Independence on board the

America 292

1782, July 29. Highly praised and commended by Chevalier de la Duzerne. . 293

1782, Sept. 4. Robert Morris inclosed resolution of Congress September 3,

presenting the America to France 294

Description of the America 295

Memorial from Jones to Congress regarding his position.
Made suggestions for the betterment of the Navy. Through
Robert Morris asked permission to join French expedition

to West Indies with the Marquis de Vaudreuil 296

9. Robert Morris commended his sentiments 297

5. The America launched and delivered to Chevalier de Martigne
for France. Jones ordered to superintend her fitting out.
Jones about this time made another effort to get the Indien,

then at Philadelphia 298

29. Jones'srequest to join French squadron presented toCongress. 299
4. Request granted. Congress commended his zeal, and recom-
mends him to the Marquis de Vaudreuil 300

24. French fleet sailed for the West Indies. Jones on the Tri-

omphante 301

18. French fleet at Port Cabello, waiting for Spanish 302

8. Notice of the declaration of peace received by French fleet . . . 303
20. Jones ill. He sailed from Cape Franfois for Philadelphia.

Highly praised by French officers 304

18. Jones arrived at Philadelphia 305

17. Attended religious services of Moravians at Bethlehem, Pa.

Quieted a disturbance 306

1783, Aug. 21. At Bernam, Pa. Wrote to Maj. J. S. Sherburne at Ports-

mouth, N. H., that his health was restored and he might

visit that city 307

1782, Sept. 22.

1782, Oct.
1782, Nov.

1782, Nov.
1782, Dec.

1782, Dec.

1783, Feb.
1783, Apr.
1783, Apr.

1783, May
1783, Aug.

176

C hr o no logy

1783, Oct. 10. Letter to Robert Morris reviewing his naval career and injus-
tice done him 308

13. Applied for position as United States prize agent in Europe . . 309

I. Appointed United States prize agent by Congress; to act under

minister plenipotentiary at Paris 310

10. Sailed from Philadelphia for Havre on the packet Washington. 311

30. Bad weather forced the packet to put into Plymouth, Eng-
land. Jones went to London with dispatches 312

6. Arrived in Paris 313

T7. Franklin authorized Jones to receive all prize money due to
officers and men of squadron lately under his command in

European waters 314

20. In Paris. Presented to Louis XVI by the Mar^chal de Cas-
tries 315

"Life of Louis XVI," by John Paul Jones, published in Lon-
don 316

I. Jones transmitted his credentials to Mar^chal de Castries;

hoped for immediate settlement of prize cases 317

10. Informed that amount of prize money due, after all expenses

are paid, will be " 283,631 1. 13 s." 318

25. Letter from Franklin regarding prisoners 319

— . Prepared to return to America with La Fayette. Delayed by

settlement of prizes ; papers not ready 320

23. Marechal de Castries signed prize case papers. Payment

delayed 321

8. Lady Selkirk informed by Jones that her silver, taken April

23, 1778, had been shipped to London 322

23. De Castries urged to settle prize cases. Jones referred to royal

auditor at 1' Orient 323

— . Left Paris for I'Orient 324

15. Order for payment of prize money issued 325

29. Thomas Jefferson, minister to France, informed of difficulties

in settling prize cases 326

31. Jones informed Jefferson of actions of Algerines against the
United States 327

4. Lord Selkirk acknowledged receipt of the silver taken April

23, 1778 32S

— . Prize money amounting to " 181,039 livres i sou 10 deniers"

paid to Jones for the United States 329

8. Proposed to Jefferson that Doctor Bancroft take his place as

prize agent to Denmark 330

18. Letter from Count d'Estaing praising Jones's "Journal."
Refers to his joining the Society of the Cincinnati. One of

the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati 331

1786, Jan. I. Jones presented his "Journal" to King Louis XVI. Thanked

his Majesty for honors conferred by him 332

1785, Feb. 28. JeiTerson acknowledged receipt of Jones's bust by Houdon . . . 333

1786, Aug. 12. Balance of prize money after deducting Jones's share,

" 1 12,172 1. 2-4," placed with Jefferson 334

1786, Aug. — . Alliance sold at Philadelphia for fg,75o 335

1786, Aug. 29. Jones sent his miniature done in wax to Mrs. Belches, Edin-
burgh 336

1783,

Oct.

18.

1783,

Nov.

1783,

Nov.

1783,

Nov.

1783,

Dec.

1783,

Dec.

1783,

Dec.

1784.

1784,

Feb.

1784,

Feb.

1784,

Mar.

1784,

June

1784,

Oct.

1784,

Nov.

1785,

June

1785,

July

1785,

July

I7S5,

July

1785,

July

1785,

Aug.

1785,

Sept.

1785,

Oct.

I7S5,

Dec.

John Paul [ones Commemoration 177

1786, Sept. 3. Informed Jefferson that " bad health has prevented his setting

out for Denmark " 337

1787, spring. Left Paris for Copenhagen to settle prize claims in Denmark.

Turned back from Brussels and sailed for the United States. 338

1787, July 18. In New York. Wrote John Jay that he will soon return to
Copenhagen. Spent summer in Pennsylvania. Urged Con-
gress to do something for relief of Americans in Algiers . . . 339

1787, Sept. 4. Wrote to Madame de T. Sent letter through Thomas Jeffer-
son, October 24, 1787 34°

17S7, Oct. II. Settlement of prize claims in France approved by Congress,
Treasury to paj' money ' ' as soon as may be among the
captors " 341

1787, Oct. 16. Gold medal ordered by Congress for Jones. To be made in
Paris under Jefferson's supervision. King of France to be

informed 342

Jones to be bearer of a letter to King of France. To proceed

to Denmark as prize agent 343

1787, Oct. 26. Notified by Congress that Jefferson is to manage Danish prize

cases, but can appoint Jones or other agent 344

1787, Nov. II. Sailed from New York; vessel bound for Holland; captain of
vessel promised to land him in France. Landed him at
Dover. Passed some days in London 345

1787, Dec. 12. Jefferson informed of his being in Paris. Jones desired this

may not be made known until after an interview with him . 346

1787, Dec. 20. Announced his arrival at Paris. Was informed that Russia

would like to have him command Black Sea fleet. Would

not deliver his letters for King until return from Denmark . 347

1788, Jan. 24. Received from Jefferson credentials as agent to Denmark 348

1788, Feb. I. Interviewed by II. Simolin, minister from Russia to France,

at house of Chevalier Littlepage 349

1788, Mar. 4. Cordially welcomed upon arrival at Copenhagen 350

1788, Mar. II. Reported to Jefferson his arrival and illness 351

1788, Mar. 18. Informed Jefferson of presentation at Danish court 352

1788, Mar. 24. Count Bernstorff informed of his mission to Denmark 353

1788, Mar. 25. Informed Jefferson regarding Russian offer 354

1788, Mar. 30. Prompt reply asked from Denmark as to payment of prize

money due United States 355

1788, Apr. 4. Informed by Count Bernstorff that he has not full powers need-
ful for a full agreement. Jones awarded a pension of 1,500
crowns a year by Denmark in recognition of respect shown

Danish flag when in the North Sea 356

1788, Apr. 5. Count Bernstorff informed that prize claims will be negotiated

and settled by Baron de Blome with Jefferson in Paris 357

1788, Apr. 18. Jefferson informed of the termination of the Danish mission,

and that Jones has decided to enter the Russian service .... 358
1788, Mar. or Grade of captain commandant with rank of major-general

Apr. offered Jones by Empress of Russia through Baron Krudner . 359

1788, Apr. 23 Arrived at St. Petersburg after dangerous journey 360

(old style. )«

«The dates herein of events connected with Jones's service with Russia are
generally "old style,'' or eleven days earlier than the present "new style " or
Gregorian Calendar. — Compher.
7257—07 12

178

Ch r n o logy

First audience with Empress Catherine II of Russia 361

Jefferson informed General Washington of the invitation to

Jones to enter the Russian service 362

Jones left Catherine's palace with a letter from her to Prince

Potemkin at St. Elizabeth 363

Arrived at St. Elizabeth ; was ordered to command of Russian

fleet in the Liman 364

Left St. Elizabeth to take command of the naval force at the

mouth of the Dnieper River. Set out for Cherson 365

Hoisted his flag as rear-admiral on the Wolodimir 366

Reenforced the fleet of the Prince of Nassau with one of his

ships 367

The Russian squadron commanded the passage of the Liman . 368
Successful engagement vnth the Turkish fleet. Turks driven
back. Jones commanded in person the flotilla of the

Prince of Nassau and his own ships 369

Potemkin thanked Jones for his victory of June 7, over the
Turks. The Order of St. Anne presented him in recog-
nition of this service to Russia 370

Jones thanked Prince Potemkin for his commendation 371

Turks reenforced; advanced to attack 372

Jones engaged the Turks. Captain Pacha driven back 373

Renewed attack by Turks; their vessels driven ashore and

burned 374

Potemkin thanked for letter of June 19. Referred to engage-
ment of the i6th 375

Jones cut off communication between Oczakow and Beresane.
Captured two chaloupes and one batteau laden with powder

and shot 376

Jones received a warning letter from Prince Potemkin 377

Jones withdrew frigates by order of Prince Potemkin 378

Ordered by Potemkin to establish blockade between Oczakow

and Beresane 379

Jones inspected entrance to the Liman 380

Flotilla to be added to Jones's command 381

Jones to send five frigates to be refitted at Glouboca 382

Vessels sent off at daybreak. Thanked by Potemkin 383

Operated against Turkish gunboats. Ran close in under
Fort Hassan under heavy fire from Turks. Secured one of

their gunboats with aid of Lieutenant Edwards 384

Jefferson informed Mr. Cutting of Jones's brilliant victory

over the Turks 385

Jones neglected to salute flag of Vice-Admiral Prince of

Nassau-Siegen 386

Potemkin proposed by letter that Jones take command of the

Sebastopol fleet 387

Requested Jefferson to attend to some private affairs in Paris.
Busts to be sent to General St. Clair, Mr. Ross, of Philadel-
phia, John Jay, General Irvine, Secretary Thompson, Colonel
Wadsworth, of New York, Mr. Madison and Colonel Car-

rington, of Virginia 388

Madison considered bust an exact likeness 389

Unsuccessful attack upon Turkish flotilla 390

1788, Apr.
1788, May

25-
2.

1788, May

7-

1788, May

19-

178S, May

20.

1788, May
1788, May

26.
28.

1788, May
1788, June
7-

29.
6,

1788, June

8.

1788, June
1788, June
1788, June
1788, June

10.
16.

17-
18.

1788, June

20.

1788, June

28.

1788, June
1788, July
1788, July

29.

I.

10.

1788, July 14.
1788, July 17.
1788, July 18.
1788, July 19.
1788, July 21
to July 31.

1788, July

28.

1788, Aug.

I.

1788, Aug.

19

1788, Aug.

29.

1788, Aug. 30.

fohn Paul Jones Commemoration lyg

1788, Sept. 18. Potemkin gave secret orders to attack Turks. Preparations

made. Jones ordered to defer operations 391

1788, Oct. 10. Jones to relinquish command of the fleet. I,ieutenant Ed-
wards, one of his officers, failed in attempt to dislodge a
gun from one of enemy's ships 392

1788, Oct. 13. Ordered by Potemkin to drive back Captain Pacha. Insinua-
tions in wording of letter resented by Jones 393

1788, Oct. 18. Informed that Admiral Mordwinoff had been ordered to super-
sede him in command of squadron 394

Ordered by Empress Catherine to proceed to St. Petersburg
for service in the North Sea. Order addressed to Jones as
vice-admiral 395

1788, Oct. 31. Recommended by Potemkin to Empress Catherine for zeal

displayed in her ser\'ice 396

1788, No\-. 9. Embarked in an open galley for Cherson. Suffered greatly

on the journey 397

17S8, Nov. 12. Arrived at Cherson; detained there by illness 398

1788, Dec. 6. Proceeded to St. Elizabeth 399

1788, Dec. 28. Arrived at St. Petersburg. Ordered to appear at court 400

1788, Dec. 31. Audience with the Empress Catherine II of Russia 401

1789, Jan. 15. Informed Jefferson of return to St. Petersburg 402

1789, Jan. 20. Proposed alliatice between Russia and America against the

Algerines and for defense of Mediterranean. Would like
command of combined fleet 403

1789, Feb. I. Further propositions of alliance between Russia and America

in the ilediterranean 404

1789, Mar. 23. Informed by Jefferson that his letter of January 31 is the only
information received from him since he left Copenhagen
(about March, 1788) 405

1789, Apr. 13. Forwarded to Prince Potemkin proof of his innocence of a

slander against him 406

1789, Jlay 17. Requested permission of Catherine to return to France or

America 407

1789, June 5. Requested an interview with Count Besborodko 408

1789, June 27. Informed that he has been granted leave for two years, with
all appointments belonging to his military rank, by Her
Imperial Majesty 4ug

1789, Jul)' 7. Took leave of Catherine II 410

1789, July 14. Made a third application for interview with Besborodko 41 1

1789, July 21. Count de Segur defended Jones against slanders. Sent an
article to be published in the Gazette de France, vindicating
Jones's character 412

1789, Jul J- 24. Reviewed campaign of Diman in letter to Potemkin 413

1789, July 29. End of the "Journal of the Liman," written for the Empress

of Russia by Jones 414

1789, July 30. Informed of his appointments and arrearages by Count Besbo-
rodko 415

1789, Sept. — . Left St. Petersburg for Warsaw 416

1789, Sept. 25. Wrote from Warsaw to Empress Catherine. (See letter Feb-
ruary 25-March 8, 1791) 417

1789, Nov. 2. Informed General Kosciusko that he would leave Warsaw

' ' this day for Vienna " 4j3

1789, Dec. 2u. Wrote to General Washington from Amsterdam 41Q

i8o Chronology

1789, Dec.

29.

1790, Feb.

9-

1790, Mar.

25.

1790, Apr.

)

May —

1790, July

24.

1791, Feb.

I.

1791, Apr.

20.

1 79 1, July

4-

1791, July

9-

1789, Dec. 27. l,etters to John Ross expressing desire to return to America
and purchase a farm, and to Benjamin Franklin inclosing
documents from Count de Segur, and recalling the tenth

anniversary of sailing of the Alliance from the Texel 420

Justified his conduct in Russia to Baron Krudner 421

All calumny removed by Count de Segur 422

Wrote to sister, Mrs. Taylor 423

In England attending to private business. Received vpith

distinction. Returned to Paris 424

Congratulated Potemkin upon Russian success 425

Proposed to Gouverneur Morris a plan for attack on India

should Russia and England engage in war 426

1791, Feb. 25. Asked Empress Catherine to cancel his leave if she does not
require his service. Sent her his "Journal of the Liman

Campaign " 427

1791, Mar. 20. Asked Jefferson to obtain for him from Congress permission
to wear the Russian Order of St. Anne, as it will be on bust

ordered for North Carolina 428

1791, Mar. 23. Jefferson informed by Chevalier Ivittlepage of Jones's brilliant

work in Russia 429

Met lyord Daer, son of Ivord Selkirk, at dinner 430

Called on Gouverneur Morris 43 r

Sent copy of his bust to Baron Grimm. Referred to inven-
tions and styles of war vessels 432

1791, Aug. 31. Informed by Jefferson that his good conduct required no proof
in America. Congress could take no action regarding the

wearing of the order 433

1791, Nov. — . Published "Treatise on the Existing State of the French

Navy" 434

1791, Dec. 7. Wrote I,a Payette that he is to be presented to l^ouis XVI as a

Russian admiral. Will later present to His Majesty letters
from Congress, given him when last in the United States
[November, 1787] 435

1792, Mar. 14. Urged upon the French minister of marine the payment of

money he advanced for salaries of Bonhonitne Richard's
crew 436

1792, June I. "Admiral John Paul Jones's" appointment as United States
Commissioner to treat with the Bey of Algiers for the re-
lease of captive Americans, confirmed by Congress. In con-
formity with act of Congress May 8, 1792 437

1792, July II. Jones attended the meeting of the National Assembly, Paris.
Dined at the Caf^ Timon. Toasted as the ' ' coming admiral
of France " 438

1792, July 18. Admiral John Paul Jones died in Paris at his residence. No. 42
Rue de Tournon. Gouverneur Morris had drawn up his will
a few hours previous to his death 439

1792, July 19. M. Le Brun announced Jones's death to the National Assembly
(of France). It decreed that a deputation of 12 members
attend his funeral. Some of the members proposed to ' ' put
him in the Pantheon." Members of the National Assembly

wore mourning in his honor 440

M. Beaupoil, French ofBcer, notified Jones's sisters of his
death, told them of his will, and sent a schedule of his
property 441

John Paul Jones Commemoration i8i

1792, July 20. Body put in a leaden coflBn to be convenient for removal to
the United States when desired. Prominent Americans and
French attended funeral. Swiss Protestant ' ' Pasteur" Jules
Marron pronouncedan oration. Gouverneur Morris " desired
that he (Jones) might be buried in a private and economical

manner " 442

Thomas Waters Griffith, of Baltimore, Md., was among those
present at Jones's funeral. Restated that there was "no
priest, no service." "A volley of muskets was fired by
soldiers over his grave," which was in "one of the common
cemeteries of Paris." "No priest " doubtless refers to there

being no Roman Catholic priest 443

Jones's body deposited in Cemetery for Foreign Protestants at

the instance of Gouverneur Morris 444

1792, Aug. 9. Colonel Blackden wrote to Sirs. Taylor, Paul Jones's sister, a

full account of his last illness, death, and burial 445

1796, Jlay 20. Information published concerning Jones's shares in the Ohio

Company 446

179S. "Citoyen " Andr^ published in Paris in French, " M^moires

de Paul Jones." (This is the "Journal for the King" so

often mentioned. — COMPILER. ) 447

1S09. A brief, unreliable sketch of the Life of Paul Jones, published

in New York by ' ' Duy ckinck " 448

1812, June — . Niles's Register published first installment of an English

translation of Andre's M^moires 449

1820, July I. Niles's Register published a notice that the New York His-
torical Society will be furnished, by Jones's niece, with origi-
nal papers from which to prepare a biography. About the
the same date Col. J. H. Sherburne advertised for data for
same purpose 450

1824, Aug. 7. Niles's Register tells of the finding of 414 Jones's original let-
ters and documents in a " huckster's shop" in New York.
They were placed in the hands of a Mr. Wiley; later,
through a jMr. Ward, came into the possession of Col. J. H.

Sherburne 45 1

1825. Colonel Sherburne published first edition of the " Life of the

Chevalier John Paul Jones " 452

1827, Apr. 28. Niles's Register stated that the Journal of John Paul Jones

was to be published in Portsmouth, N. H 453

1830. Memoirs of Paul Jones, published by Oliver & Boyd in Edin-

burgh, from papers in the possession of Jones's family.

(Known as the Janette Taylor edition) 454

A Life of John Paul Jones, published in New York by R. C.

Sands 455

1831. Lieut. A. B. Pinkham, U. S. Navy, while traveling in Scot-

land, visited the birthplace of Jones, and had the house in
which Jones was born restored at his own expense. Miss
Janet Taylor, niece of Jones, gave Lieutenant Pinkham the
miniature now at the United States Naval Academy, in recog-
nition of his kindness 456

1831, June 13. William P. Taylor, nephew of John Paul Jones, appointed

midshipman United States Navy, died December 14, 1836. . 457

1 82 Chro7iology

1834, June 30. Congress authorized that a fj-igate be named _/oA« Paul Jones.

Not carried out 458

1837, Feb. 28. Col. J. H. Sherburne discovered an unpaid balance of jS5o,ooo
in the United States Treasury due to Jones, his officers and
men for prizes captured 459

1839, Feb. 18. Letters of administration granted by the orphan's court of the
District of Columbia to Colonel Sherburne to enable him to
carry out the instructions of Congress regarding the money

due for prizes taken by Jones's squadron 460

1841. Capt. A. S. Mackenzie, U. S. Navy, published a "Life of John

Paul Jones " 461

1844, Jan. 31. Heirs of Jones petitioned Congress for land in Virginia that

had belonged to him 462

1845. Hon. George Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy, asked by Col-

onel Sherburne to grant permission for the remains of Jones
to be brought to the United States in a man-of-war return-
ing from the Mediterranean. No reply given to the request. 463

1846. J. Fenimore Cooper, published a brief life of Jones. This was

followed by sketches of the naval hero by many authors. . . 464

1847, Dec. 28. Colonel Sherburne wrote to Hon. R. Rush, minister to France,

with regard to removal of Jones's remains 465

1848, Jan. 3. Mr. Rush replied that he would give Colonel Sherburne any

aid in his power in the removal, from Paris for interment in
Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D. C, of Jones's body. 466

1848, Mar. 21. Congress authorized the payment of arrears of pay and prize

money to John Paul Jones's heirs 467

1848, July 6. Appropriation for payment of balance of $50,000 to heirs of
Jones, his officers and men, and the Danish claim, jjiso,ooo,
finally made 468

1851, Jan. 27. Secretary of the Navy informed that a revolution in France
had prevented Colonel Sherburne from bringing back
remains. Asked to be allowed to bring them on the U. S.
frigate St. Lawrence when she returned to the United States.
Americans in Liverpool had subscribed $300 toward a fund
for reinterment 469

1851, Jan. 30. Capt. Joshua R. Sands ordered to transport Jones's remains
on the St. Lawrence upon his return from Southampton to
New York 470

1851, Jan. 30. Department informed Colonel Sherburne of orders given to

Captain Sands 471

1851, Feb. 20, Colonel Sherburne to accompany remains on board the St.

11. Lawrence upon her return voyage 472

1851, May 6. Captain Sands notified Colonel Sherburne from Southampton

that he was ready to receive the remains and to sail 473

Mr. N. Billings, attorney for F. E. Lowden, and legal repre-
sentative of Jones's heirs in Scotland, notified Colonel Sher-
burne that he had taken steps to prevent removal of remains . 474

1851, May 16. Mr. Billings apologized to Colonel Sherburne. Wrote "will

be glad to aid in search for remains " 475

1851, May 19, Correspondence between Colonel Sherburne at Paris, and
27. Captain Sands at Lisbon, regarding Mr. Billings's interfer-
ence. Sands regretted that he could not have the honor of
conveying the body of Jones to United States 476

John Paul Jones Commemoration

183

1851, July 14. The Secretary of the Navy, Hon. Wm. A. Graham, informed
that Colonel Sherburne's search of the records of Paris and
the files of the Moniteur showed that the Protestant Ceme-
tery in the rear of the Hotel Dieu, where John Paul Jones
was supposed to have been buried, had been sold and all
bones removed to catacombs. Mr. Billings assisted in the
search 477

1851, August. Colonel Sherburne in New York, sent to Hon. Wm. A. Gra-

ham a copy of the second edition of his ' ' Life and Charac-
ter of John Paul Jones," recently published 478

1852, June 5. Death of Col. J. H. Sherburne, Washington, D. C 479

1859. M. Charles Read, discovered entry in an old burial register,

of interment of Jones in (Dutch) Foreign Cemetery in
northeast part of Paris. Made copy from register 89, 1799. . 480
i86t, July 29. Congress requested a statement of proportion of fund due

heirs of John Paul Jones 481

1861, Aug. 6. Secretary of Treasury submitted to Congress statement of prize

money due to officers and seamen of the Bonhomme Richard
and Alliance. To Bonhomme Richard, 191,024.34; to the
Alliance, $74,574.03 482

1862, Jan. 3. Above statements presented to Congress 483

1862. U. S. S. Paul Jones built and put in service 484

1869, Dec. — . Charles Dickens made the erroneous statement that the remains
of John Paul Jones had been brought to the United States
on the St. Lawrence in 185 1, for interment in the Congres-
sional Cemetery at Washington, D. C 485

1899, July 31. Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State, informed that Mr. Charles
Read (antiquary) had made a copy of the burial register
destroyed in 1871 486

1905, Feb. 9. Gen. Horace Porter, United States ambassador to France,
announced that he had located the burial place of John Paul
Jones 487

1905, Feb. 14. President Roosevelt transmitted General Porter's report to
Congress. Recommended appropriation of fos,ooo to defray
expense of search in Cemetery St. I<ouis (uo such appro-
priation was made). Also recommended an appropriation
for monuments to John Paul Jones and John Barry 488

1905, Feb. 22. At banquet in Paris General Porter stated that after a search

of five years he had found the long-sought site 489

1905, Apr. 14. Ambassador Porter cabled to Washington that John Paul
Jones's body had been found and identified by French
scientists 490

1905, June 15. A silk flag presented to Rear-Admiral Sigsbee hy the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution Society to be used in con-
nection with the return of Jones's remains. Afterwards to
be hung in Continental Hall, Washington, D. C 491

1905, June iS. Squadron under command of Rear-Admiral C. D. Sigsbee,
sailed for France to bring John Paul Jones's body to the
United States 492

1905, July 6. Body of John Paul Jones delivered hy Ambassador Porter to
Assistant Secretary of State Loomis, and by him delivered
to Rear-Admiral Sigsbee in the American Church of the
Holy Trinity, Rue de I'Alma, Paris, with appropriate cere-
monies 493

1 84

C h r o n o logy

1905, July 8. The United States squadron, under command of Rear-Admiral

Sigsbee, sailed from Cherbourg for the United States 494

1905, July 23. Rear-Admiral Sigsbee's squadron, the Brooklyn, Galveston,
Chattanooga, and Tacoma, convoyed by the Alabama,
Massachusetts, Illinois, and Iowa, and the French cruiser
Jurien de la Graviire, dropped anchor off Annapolis, Md. 495

1905, July 24. Body of John Paul Jones placed in brick vault. Naval Academy

grounds, Annapolis, with religious and military ceremonies. 496

1905, Sept. 23. Tablet erected on Badgers (formerly Langdons) Island, in
harbor of Portsmouth, N. H., in "Memory of the Conti-
nental sloop Ranger " 497

1905, Oct. — . Gen. Horace Porter's account of the finding of John Paul

Jones's body published in the Century Magazine 498

1905. Report of Gen. Horace Porter in Foreign Relations 499

1905, Dec. 4, 6. Bills introduced in Congress by Senator I/odge and Repre-

sentative Currier for the erection of a monument to John

Paul Jones in Washington, D. C 500

1906, Feb. I. The John Paul Jones Club of Portsmouth, N. H., desired

Masonic honors at final interment or commemoration of
Jones 501

1906, Apr. 24. Commemorative ceremonies held in the armory of the Naval
Academy, Annapolis. Casket containing the body was
taken from brick vault to armory, and at close of cere-
monies was deposited in Bancroft Hall. The military escort
was composed of ofiicers and men from the French and
American squadrons in the harbor, the midshipmen of the
Naval Academy, and two troops of United States cavalry,
under command of Col. A. P. Hatfield. Masonic services
were held at Portsmouth, N. H., Kittery and Berwick, Me.,
and Alexandria, Va. , on the same day 502

1906, May 9. Joint Resolution extending the thanks of Congress to General

Horace Porter for recovery of the body of John Paul Jones. 503

1906, June 8. Bill for the erection of monument to John Paul Jones ap-
proved 504

igo6, June 11. Portrait of John Paul Jones, painted by Miss Cecelia Beaux,

presented to the Naval Academy by the class of 1881 505

1906, June 29. Concurrent resolution of Congress provided for printing 11,000

copies of addresses, etc., of the commemorative services at
Annapolis, Md., April 24, 1906 506

1907, Jan. 30. Bill introduced in Congress to establish September 23, to be

observed in the Navy, as Paul Jones Day 507

1907, Mar. I. Letter, signed " Chevr. Paul Jones," to Board of Admiralt}',
stating amount of pay due him from December 7, 1775, to
June 26, 1781, sold at auction in New York for I142.50. . . . 508

John Paul Jones Commemoration 185

LIST OF AUTHORITIES CONSULTED

-Mdmoires de Paul Jones, edited by " Citoyen Andr^," Paris, 1798.

-Ivife of Celebrated Paul Jones, published by E. Duyckinck, New York, 1809.

, Niles's Weekly Register.

-lyife and Character of John Paul Jones, by Col. J. H. Sherburne, iSSj, 1851.

, Memoirs of Rear-Admiral Paul Jones, published Edinburgh, 1830.

Ijife of John Paul Jones, by R. C. Sands, New York, 1830.

Life of John Paul Jones, by A. S. Mackenzie, U. S. Navy, 1S41.

Life of John Paul Jones and History of U. S. Navy, by J. F. Cooper.
. Paul Jones, Founder of the American Navy, by A. C. Buell.

Commodore Paul Jones, by C. T. Brady.
-Paul Jones, by il. E. Seawell.

Congressional Records.

American Archives.

Journals of Congress (Folwell), vols, i, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 12.

Jefferson's Complete Works, vols, i, 2, 3.
- Naval Chronicle, by Goldsborough, vol. i.

Files and Records of Navy Department.

Stevens Facsimiles, Library of Navy Department.
. Life of Esek Hopkins, by Field.
. Life of John Barry, by Griffin.
. Diary of Dr. Ezra Green.
. Life of Com. Tucker, by Sheppard.
. A Relic of the Revolution, by Rev. R. Levesey. (Herbert's Diary.)

My Scrapbook of the French Revolution (T. W. Griffith), by Mrs. Latimer.
-History of the Flag and History of the Portsmouth Navy- Yard, Preble.
^United States Navy, 1775-1853, Emmons.

Original Commission of 1792 in Kane collection. New York, and original draft in
Library of Congress.

Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Jlorris.
-Calendar of John Paul Jones' Manuscripts in the Library of Congress, 1903.

Copies of Logs of the Ranger^ Bonhomme Richard, Serapis, Alliance, and Ariel.

Type-written copy of Letter-Book of John Paul Jones, Naval Academy, vols. 1,2,3.

Type-written copy of original logs and correspondence preserved at St. Marys
Isle, in the Charter-room of Lord Selkirk's house.

John Paul Jones Miscellany, vols, i, 2, 3. This includes pamphlets, magazine
articles, and copies of original correspondence in Navy Department Library.

Letter from Miss Janette Taylor to James Fenimore Cooper, October 28, 1843,
published in Proc. U. S. Naval Institute, June, 1907.

National Intelligencer, Washington, D. C, June 7, 1852.

A number of encyclopedias and French and English Histories.

Dictionnaire Larousse, old and new editions.
^Report of Gen. Horace Porter.

i86 Chronology

SPECIFIC REFERENCES

I. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 2. Memoirs, 1830, vol. i, p. i.

2-3. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 8. Memoirs, vol. i, pp. 5, 6.

4. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 9. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 7.

5. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 10. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 7.
6-7. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 11. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 7.

8. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 15.

9. John Paul Jones Miscellany, vol. i, No. 3; vol. 2, pt. i, p. 6.
10. Memoirs, vol. I, pp. 8, 12. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 12.

11-15. Memoirs, vol. i, pp. 9-11, 13, 17, 18. Mackenzie, vol. i, pp. 13-15, 17.

16. Junius Davis pamphlet and letters from A. and W. Jones, John Paul Jones

Misc., vol. 3. Proc. U. S. Naval Institute, June, 1907.

17. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. i, No. 3; vol. 2, pt. i, p. 5.
18-23. Buell, vol. 1, pp. 24-32.

24. American Archives, series 4, vol. 4, p. 360.

25. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 28.

26. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. i, p. 281. Sherburne, 1851, p. ii.

27. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 30. Mackenzie, vol. 1, p. 23. Sands, p. 305 (letter

dated Oct. 10, 1783). Sherburne, 1851, p. 17.

28. Ivife of Esek Hopkins, Field, p. 98. Biographies of Jones.

29. American Archives, series 4, vol. 4, p. 964.

30-32, Mackenzie, vol. i, pp. 25, 26, 28. Memoirs, pp. 32, 34. Sherburne, 1851,
p. 12.

33. Emmons, U. S. Navy, 1775-1853, p. 41. Sherburne, 1851, p. 13.

34. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 28. Sherburne, 1851, p. 13. Buell, vol. i, p. 50.

35. American Archives, series 4, vol. 5, p. 932.

36. Calendar John Paul Jones Manuscripts, Ivib. Cong., p. 10.

37-38. American Archives, series 4, vol. 6, pp. 418, 511. Sherburne, 1851, p. 16.

39. American Archives, series 4, vol. 6, p. 511.

40. Sherburne, 1851, p. 19.

41. Memoirs, vol. I, p. 36.

42-43. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 36. American Archives, series 4, vol. 6, pp. 820,
844, 972.

44. American Archives, series 4, vol. 6, p. 980.

45. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 37. M^moires (Andr^), p. 7.

46. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 37. M^moires (Andr^), p. 7. Sands, p. 306.

47. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 37.

48. American Archives, series 5, vol. i, p. 977.
49-50. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 29. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 38.

51-52. Emmons, U. S. Navy, 1775-1853, p. 43. Sherburne, 1851, p. 22.

53. Sherburne, 1851, p. 21.

54. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. II, p. 381.

55. Sherburne, 1851, p. 22.

56-58. Sherburne, 1851, p. 26. American Archives, series 5, vol. 2, pp. 1194, 1303.

Vol. 3, p. 491.
59-63. Emmons, U. S. Navy, 1775-1853, p. 43. American Archives, series 5, vol.

3, p. 1282.

64. Sands, p. 41. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 42.

65. Sherburne, 1851, p. 27. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 42. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 32.

66. Sherburne, 1851, p. 27. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 15.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 187

67-68. Memoirs, vol. I, p. 42. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 35. Calendar J. P. J. MSS.,

Lib. Cong., p. 17.
69-70. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 42. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 35. Calendar J, P. J. MSS.,

Lib. Cong., p. 19.
71-72. Journals of Congress (Folvpell), vol. Ill, p. 71.

73. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 20. Sands, p. 66.

74. Buell, vol. I, p. 71. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. i, p. 119.

75. Sherburne, 1851, p. 41. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 23.

76. Sherburne, 1851, p. 37. M^moires (Andr^), p. 17. Memoirs, vol. i, pp.

53. 54-
77-78. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 37, 38.

79. Journals of Congress (Folwellj, vol. Ill, p. 194.

80. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 23. Sherburne, p. 38.

Si. Calendar. J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 25. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. 2,
p. 142.

82-83. J- P- J- Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. 2, p. 137; vol. i. No. 2, pp. 452, 453.

84. Sherburne, 1851, p. 40.

85- J- P- J- Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. 2, p. 141.

86. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 57. M^moires (Andr^), p. 18.

87. Buell, vol. I, p. 82. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 33. Mackenzie,

vol. I, p. 47.

88. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 48. History Portsmouth Navy- Yard (Preble), p. 14.

Ezra Green's Diary, p. 30, MSS. copy.

89. Log of Ranger^ p. i. Emmons, U. S. Navy 1775-1853, p. 45. Ezra Green's

Diary, p. 31.

90. Log Ranger, p. 4. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 33. Mdmoires (Andr^), p. 18.

91. Buell, vol. I, p. 86.

92. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. 2, p. 173.

93. Sherburne, 1851, p. 44.

94. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 56.

95. Log Ranger, p. 16. B. F. Stevens Facsimiles, 759.

96. Log Ranger, p. 19.

97-98. Log Ranger, p. 19. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 33.

99. Log Ranger, p. 20. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 36.

100. Mackenzie, vol. i, pp. 54, 55.

101-103. Log Ranger, pp. 25, 26, 29.

104-106. Letter Book of John Paul Jones at U. S. Naval Academy, pt. i, pp. 9, 14, 15.

107. Log Ranger, p. 34. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 36.

108. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. i, pp. 37, 48. Log Ranger, p. 35. Ezra Green's

Diary, p. 37.
109-111. Log Ranger, pp. 37,38. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 37. Letter Book of

J. P. J., pt. I, pp. 37,48.
112-113. liOg, Ranger, p. 39. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 38. Letter Book of J. P. J.,

pt. I, pp. 23,39. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 44-45.

114. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. I, p. 37. Ezra Green's Diary, pp. 39, 40. Manu-

scripts from St. Mary's Isle.

115. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. i, pp. 44, 45. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 40.
116-118. Log Ranger, pp. 41, 46. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. i, pp. 21, 22. Manu-
scripts from St. Mary's Isle.

119-120. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. i, p. 37. Sherburne, 1851, p. 51.

121. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. i, p. 33.
122-123. IvOg Ranger, p. 48.

Chron o logy

124-128. I,etter Book of J. P. J., pt. i, pp. 37, 56, 58, 60, 64.

129. Sherburne, 1851, p. 70. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 44.

130. Ivife of Commodore Samuel Tucker (Sheppard), pp. 290-291.

131. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 108. Sands, p. 114.

132. L,etter Book of J. P. J., pt. i, p. 83. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 42. Sands,

p. 118.

133. Sherburne, 185 1, p. 329.

134. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 43.

135-139. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. i, pp. 95, 96, 105-iog. Sands, p. 124.

140. Ezra Green's Diary, p. 44.
141-142. Buell, vol. I, pp. 132, 136.

143-144. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 2, 151, 162. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 74, 77.
Mtooires (Andr6), pp. 49-52.

145. Sherburne, 1851, p. 62.

146. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 2, pp. 187, 189. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 79, 81.

147. Sherburne, 1851, p. 83. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, pp. 241, 282.

148. M^moires (Andr6), pp. 49, 57. Sherburne, 1851, p. 66.

149. Sherburne, 1851, p. 85. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, p. 225.

150. Sherburne, 1851, p. 86.

151. Buell, vol. I, p. 139.

152. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. 2, p. 233. Vol. 3, No. 13.

153. Sherburne, 1851, p. 87.

154. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, p. 282. Calendar J. P. J., MSS., Lib. Cong.,

p. 82. American Catholic Historical Researches, July, 1905.
155-156. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 89, 90.

157. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, p. 290.

158. Sherburne, 1851, p. 91.

159. l-iOg Bonhom-me Richard, p. i.

160. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, p. 297.

161. Sherburne, 1851, p. 91.

162. Memoirs, vol. 1, p. 156.

163-164. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 93, 94, 200. Buell, vol. i, pp. 175-178.

165. Log Bonhomme Richard, p. 12.

166. Log Bonhomme Richard, p. 13.

167. Log Bonhoinme Richard, p. 13.

168. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, p. 312.

169. Log Bonhomme Richard, pp. 17, 18.

170. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, p. 314.

171. Sherburne, 1851, p. 95. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 158.

172. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, p. 315.

173. Log Bonhomme Richard, p. 19.

174-175- Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, pp. 323, 332. Sherburne, 1851, p. 98.

176. Log Bonhomme Richard, p. 22.

177. Letter Book of J. P. J., pt. 3, p. 339.
178-179. Log Bonhom-me Richard, pp. 23, 24,

180-181. Sherburne, 1851, p. 104. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 153.

182. Mdmoires (Andr^), p. 71. Log Bonlwmme Richard, p. 26.

183. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. i, pp. 22-23.
184-185. Emmons, U. S. Navy, 1775-1853, p. 47.

186. Sherburne, 1851, p. 109.

187. Sherburne, 1851, p. io5. Sands, p. 172.

188. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 171.

John Pa til Jo ties Commemoration 189

189. Liverpool Privateers, pp. 223, 262.
190-191. IvOg Bonhomme Richard, pp. 46, 47. M^moires (Andr^), pp. 77-102.

Sherburne, 1851, p. 114.
192-193. I/Og U. S. S. Serapis, pp. i, 3.

194. M^moires (Andr^), p. 103. Biographies.
195-196. 'hogV.S.S. Serapis, pp. 3, 10. Sherburne, 1851, p. 120.
197-198. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 124, 174.

199. I/Og U. S. S. Serapis, p. 11.

200. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 216. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 203. Sherburne, p. 128.

201. Sherburne, p. 175.

202. Sherburne, p. 176.
203-205. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 177-179.

206. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 218.

207. Sherburne, 1851, p. 156. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 225.

208. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 230.

209. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 210.

210. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 235,

211. IvOg U. S. S. Serapis, p. 30. Log U. S. S. Alliance, p. 34.
212-213. Mackenzie, vol. i, pp. 241, 242.

214. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 217.
215-216. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 247.

217. Log Alliance, p. 44.

218. Log Alliance, p. 45. Mackenzie, p. 253.

219-220. Mackenzie, vol. i, pp. 255, 257. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 184, 335.
221-224. Log Alliance, pp. 55, 60, 65, 68, 76.

225. Sherburne, 1851, p. 185. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 260.
226-228. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 185, 189, 190.

229. Sherburne, 1851, p. 173.

230. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 15. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 144.

231. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. i, p. 23.

232-233. M^moires (Andre), p. 123. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 35. Sherburne, 1851,

P- 193-

234-235. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 151. Sherburne, p. 195.

236. Log Alliance, p. 108. Mackenzie, vol. 2, pp. 38, 41. Memoirs, pp. 244, 245.

237. Log Alliance, p. 109.

238. ho^ Ariel, p. iii.

239. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 247.

240. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 154.
241-243. LiOg Ariel, pp. iii, 112.

244. B. F. Stevens Facsimiles, No. 727. Sands, p. 279. Memoires (Andr^),
p. 198.
245-246. Log Ariel, p. 113. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 58.

247. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 157.

248. Relic of the Revolution (Herbert), p. 242.

249. Mackenzie, vol. 2, pp. 61-62. Letter from Mr. R. Dale, February 15, 1907.

Files Navy Department Library, No. 3739.
250-251. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 204, 208.

252. Relic of the Revolution (Herbert), p. 242.

253. Sherburne, 1851, p. 209. Memoires (Andrd), p. 199.
254-255- l^og Ariel, pp. 129, 131.

256. liog Ariel, p. 132. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 65.

257. Calendar J. P. J. MSS.', Lib. Cong., p. 166.

igo Chronology

258. Sherburne, 1851, p. 332.

259. L,og Ariel, p. 141.

260. l/Og Ariel, p. 144.

261. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 170.

262. Sands, p. 298. Calendar J. P. J MSS., Wb. Cong., p. 172.

263. Sands, p. 299.

264. Mackenzie, vol. 2, pp. 76-77. Brady, p. 297.

265-266. Sherburne, 1851, p. 213. Mackenzie, vol. 2, pp. 78, 79. M^moires (Andre),

P- 139-

267. (H. Res. 411), introduced April 21, 1906, sgth Congress, ist sess.

268. Memoirs, vol. i, p. 269. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 82.

269. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VII, p. 29.
270-271. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VII, p. 32.

272. History of Philadelphia (Scharf & Westcott), vol. i, p. 415.
273-274. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 198-201, 215.

275. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VII, p. 70.

276. I<ibrary, Navy Department, 035:48.

277. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VII, p. 71.

278. Calendar J. P. J. MSS. Lib. Cong., p. 177.
279-280. Sands, pp. 327, 330.

281. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VII, p. 109.

282. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 95.

283. Sherburne, 1851, p. 357.

284. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VII, p. 124.

285. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 96.

286. Buell, vol. 2, p. 77. Rambles about Portsmouth (Brewster).

287. New Hampshire Gazette, Nov. 17, 1781. New Hampshire State Papers,

vol. VIII, p. 915. Files Library, Navy Dept., No. 3150.

288. M^moires (Andr^), p. 206.

289. Sherburne, 185 1, p. 322.

290. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VII, pp. 289, 290.

291. M^moires (Andr6), p. 159. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 100.

292. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. lor. Rambles about Portsmouth (Brewster).

293. M^moires (Andr^), p. 162.

294. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VII, p. 343. Sherburne, 1851, p. 229.

295. History of Portsmouth Navy- Yard (Preble), p. 15.
296-297. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 230, 234.

298. Mackenzie, vol. 2, pp. 106-109. History Portsmouth Navy- Yard, p, 17.

299. Sherburne, 1851, p. 234.

300. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VIII, p. 18.

301-304. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 235-237. M^moires (Andr^), pp. 169, 173, 174. Mac-
kenzie, vol. 2, pp. 117, 119, 121, 268, 269.

305. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 123.

306. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 3, No. 12.

307. Sherburne, 1851, p. 360.

308. Sands, p. 304. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 187.

309-310. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. VIII, p. 335. Sherburne, 185 1, p. 238.

Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 127.
311-312. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 128. M^moires (Andr^), p. 177.
313-315. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 129. M^moires (Andr^), p. 178.

316. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. i, p. 56.

317. Sherburne, 1851, p. 240.

John Paul Jones CoTnntevi oration 191

318. Mdmoires (Andr6), p. 181.

319. Sherburne, 1851, p. 247.
320-321. Mdmoires (Andr6), pp. 183-184.

322. Ivetters and Documents at St. Mary's Isle.

323. Sherburne, 185 1, p. 250.

324. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 134.
325-327. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 252-254, 261.

328. I,etters and Documents at St. Mary's Isle.

329. Jefferson's Complete Works, vol. 2, p. i. Sherburne, 1851, p. 261.

330. Sherburne, 1851, p. 267.

331. Sherburne, 1851, p. 57, Letter from A.sa Bird Gardiner, J. P. J. Miscellany,

vol. 3. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 190.

332. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 194.

333. Sherburne, 1851, p. 257.

334. Jefferson's Complete Works, vol. 2, p. i.

335. History of Philadelphia (Scharf & Westcott), vol. i, p. 441.

336. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. i, p. 48. Letter from Captain John S.

Barnes, File No. 1137, Library, Navy Department.

337-339- Sherburne, 1851, pp. 261, 269.

340. Sherburne, 1851, p. 337, Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 195.

341. Sherburne, 1851, p. 266. Journals of Congress (Folwell), vol. xn, pp.

133. 135-

342-344. Journals of Congress (Folwell) vol. xii, pp. 138,145. Sherburne, 1851, pp.
272, 274,

345. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 163. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 4.

346. Sherburne, 1851, p. 275. Calendar J. P. J. MSS., Lib. Cong., p. 196.

347. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 4.

348-350. Memoirs, vol, 2, p. 6. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 165.

351-358- Sherburne, 1851, pp. 279, 280, 284, 285. Sands, pp. 381-389.

359. Sands, p. 387. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 173.

360-361. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 180. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 10.

362. Jefferson's Complete Works, vol. 2, p. 372.

363-384. Memoirs, vol. 2, pp. 11-65. Mackenzie, vol. 2, pp. 184-206. Sherburne,
1851, pp. 287-296.

385. Jefferson's Complete Works, vol. 2, p. 41:.

386-387. Memoirs, vol. 2, pp. 66, 68.

388-389. Sherburne, 1851, p. 297, and preface (letter from James Madison).

390-401, Memoirs, vol. 2, pp. 70-96. Mackenzie, vol, 2, pp. 204-218. Sherburne,

1851, pp. 300-301.

402-403. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 301, 302.

404. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 97.

405-409. Memoirs, pp. 101, 150, 163, 172, 176.

410. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 237.

411-417. Memoirs, vol. 2, pp. 174, 182, 224, 117, 180, 184, 231.

418-423. Memoirs, vol. 2, pp. 196, 203, 213, 211, 292.

424. Manuscript from St. Mary's Isle.

425. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 224. Sherburne, 1851, p. 311.

426. Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. i, p. 378.

427. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 231. Sherburne, 1851, p. 314.
428-429. Sherburne, 1851, pp. 316, 319.

430. Manuscript from St. Mary's Isle.

431. Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. i, pp. 407, 429.

192 Chronology

432. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 265. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 237.

433. Jefiferson's Complete Works, vol. 3, p. 293.

434. Buell, vol. 2. p. 292-295.

435. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 298.

436. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 300.

437. Jefferson'sCompleteWorks, vol. 3, p. 431. American State Papers, Foreign

Relations, vol. i, p. 290.

438. Buell, vol. 2, pp. 312-313.

439. Diary and I<etters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. i, p. 555; vol. 2, p. 45. Sher-

burne, 1851, p. 338.

440. Sherburne, 1851, preface, letter from Thomas Jefferson, p. 338. Files of

Le Moniteur. Buell, vol. 2, pp. 322-325.

441. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 307.

442. Mackenzie, vol. 2, p. 280. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 311. Diary and Letters of

Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2, pp. 45, 46.

443. "My Scrap-book of the French Revolution" (GriflSth), Latimer, p. 21.

444. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. i. No. 6. Buell, vol. 2, p. 324. " My Scrap-book,

etc." (Griffith), Latimer, p. 21.

445. Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 309. Sands, p. 542.

446. Sands, p. 598.

447. "M^moires de Paul Jones, par le citoyen Andr^. Paris, An VI, 1798."

448. Life of Paul Jones. B. Duyckinck, New York, 1809.

449. Niles's Register, vol. 2, p. 230.

450. Niles's Register, vol. 18, p. 320; vol. 27, p. 150.

451. Sherburne, 1825. Introduction, p. viii. Memoirs, vol. i, preface. Niles's

Register, vol. 26, p. 369.

452. Life and Character of the Chevalier John Paul Jones, City of Washington,

1825.

453. Niles's Register, vol. 32, p. 15.

454. Memoirs of Paul Jones, Edinburgh, 1830.

455. Life of John Paul Jones. R. C. Sands, New York, 1830.

456. Mackenzie, vol. i, p. 5; vol. 2, p. 26, footnotes.

457. Navy Registers and files Bureau Navigation, Navy Department.

458. Sherburne, 185 1, p. 373. Statutes at Large, vol. 4, p. 724.

459-460. Sherburne, 185 1, pp. 364-366. Files Navy Department. Copies in Library.

461. Life of Paul Jones, A. S. Mackenzie, U. S. N., Boston, 1841.

462. House Report 115, 28th Cong., ist sess., vol. i. Mackenzie, vol. 2, appen-

dix, p. 305.

463. Sherburne, 1851, p. 369.

464. Lives of Distinguished American Naval OflScers, J. F. Cooper, 1846.
465-466. Sherburne, pp. 369, 370.

467. 9 Stat. L., p. 214.
430. Sherburne, 185 1, p. 368.
469-477. Files Navy Department (Correspondence with Col. J. H. Sherburne and
Capt. Joshua Sands, U. S. N. Copies in Library). See also Sherburne,
1851, p. 369.

478. Files Navy Department.

479. National Intelligencer, Washington, D. C, June 7, 1852.

480. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 1, No. 6. Vol. 2, pt. i, pp. 59, 6i.
481-483. Senate Executive Document No. 11, 37th Cong., 2d sess.

484. U. S. Navy Registers, 1862-1867.
485-496. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. 1, pp. 59-128.

John Paul /ones C o in m e in o r a t i o n 193

497. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. 2, p. 198.

498. Century Magazine, October, 1905.

499. Foreign Relations, 1905.

500. Senate, Public Act 685; H. R. Bill 179, 59tli Congress, ist sess.
501-502. J. P. J. Miscellany, vols, i, 2, 3.

503. 34 Stat. L., p. 829.

504. 34 Stat. L., p. 224. June 8, 1906.

505. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 3.

506. Concurrent Resolution, House of Representatives, No. 30, 59th Congress,

ist sess.

507. H. R. Bill 25516, 59tli Congress, 2d sess.

508. J. P. J. Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 48."
7257—07 13

APPENDIX

IvETTER FROM UNITED STATES CONSUVGENERAL
GOWDY TO REPRESENTATIVE LANDIS

RuSHViivi,E, Indiana, May 26, 1907.

My dear Mr. Landis: It gives me much pleasure to enclose to you a copy of
my letter to you of Jan. 2nd, 1899, in answer to yours of November 25, 1898.

I had two copies made at the time I wrote you thinking that at some time in the
future I might want the copy for a special purpose.

In fact, Charley, when I dictated the letter it occurred to me that it was rather a
good letter, please excuse me for saying so much to you.

From the date of the receipt of your letter I was actively engaged, through several
different channels trying to locate the body, and last resting place of the founder of
the American Navy, John Paul Jones. One of my representatives located the grave,
and so reported to me, but at the same time said an agent of General Horace Porter
obtained the same facts and information the previous day. This closed my further
investigation. General Porter and myself always worked in perfect harmony in
everything. To General Porter is due the credit of finding the body of the greatest
Naval Hero of his day, John Paul Jones.

M}- desire to do a kindness for you and at the same time perform a patriotic duty
for my Government, caused me to give time and expense in an effort to recover the
neglected remains of one of America's greatest heroes.

Assuring you of my great pleasure in complying with your request,
I am faithfully yours,

John K. Gowdy.

Hon. Chas. B. IvANDIs, Delphi, Indiana.

[Enclosure.] '

Paris, January 2, i8gg.

Dear Sir: There are in the catacombs bones representing six million people.
After all the research I have made I very much fear that the remains of John Paul
Jones lie in the Catacombs, but have learned nothing positive to that effect.

I am still trying to get some information, if possible, and if I succeed will write
you at once.

I learn from his biography that "his remains were placed in a leaden coffin, for
the convenience of their removal in case the United States should ever claim them
for burial," but unfortunately our Government never did so.

It does seem strange that we have not identified ourselves in gratitude to him who
fought our battles at sea in our struggle for independence, and who was the first to
secure our recognition as a Republic.

"His achievement of glorious deeds commends itself to the gratitude of the
country.

Every thoughtful American citizen can not but feel the deepest regret that we
have shown no interest in his resting place. The graves of other heroes of the Rev-
olution have been marked, and honor paid. Washington's tomb is as familiar as

195

196 Appendix

his deeds; and not a week passes but American citizens inscribe their names on the
visitor's book at the little cemetery of Picpus and pay their respects at the grave of
General La Fayette.

John Paul Jones' love of liberty and devotion to the United States Government
and its principles, were the strongest passions of his life. Besides fighting our
battles he identified himself in many ways with our Government, that in the past
century should have called forth as for other heroes of the Revolution the praise
and admiration of a grateful people.

1 . As Lieutenant of the Alfred he hoisted the first American flag that was ever
displayed.

2. So closely is he connected with the flag so dear to us that in the same resolution
to Congress that made ' ' the flag of the thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, that
the Union be thirteen states, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
John Paul Jones was also appointed Commander of the Ranger, the best ship in the
service, and over which he was no doubt the first to hoist the new flag.

3. He received the first salute ever given to American Independence, that being
given by the French fleet at Quiberon Bay three years before the surrender of
Cornwallis.

4. He paid off the crews of the Alfred and the Providence from his own resources
and left the United States on the Ranger 1,000 (j55, 250.00) pounds in advance to the
U. S. Government.

5. He fought with a true love of liberty, and during the revolution devoted himself
wholly to the interest and honor of America. He afterwards fought under other
flags, but always remained true to the U. S. Government, and one of the last efforts
of his life was to secure the liberation of American seamen in Algiers.

6. He won several titles and delighted in being recognized by them. He said
' ' Rank opens the door to glory, ' ' but he never renounced the glorious title of citizen
of the United States. In making his last will and testament he chose not to call
himself Lieutenant, Captain, Admiral, or Chevalier, but "I, John Paul Jones, an
American citizen." He went in dangerous ways for us, displaying loyalty and
courage in great deeds that astonished the age. He certainly deserves a fitting
memorial as the great hero that he was, and the founder of our American navy,
which by the master ability of Perry, Farragut, Dewey, Sampson, and Schley has
won the admiration of the world.

I am faithfully yours,

John K. Gowdy.
Hon. Chas. B. Landis, M. C,

Delphi, Indiana.

[Inclosure C of Report of Rear-Admiral Sigsbee.]

FRENCH OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS WHO TOOK PART IN
THE CEREMONIES AT PARIS

The American train arrived at the Gare des Invalides at 11.50 a. m.

At the station: Capt. Andr^, French navy, representing the minister of marine;
Lieut, de Grancej-, French navy; Capt. Couranjou, of the staff of the militar}- gov-
ernor of Paris (Gen. Dessirier); Commandant Vignal, of the general staff of the
army; Capt. Beque, of the Legion of the Garde Republicaine, and Lieut. Ebenrecht,
of the Seventy-sixth Regiment of Infantry (the last two officers were placed at the
disposal of the oiEcer commanding the American guard); Capt. Lepelletier, and
Monsieur Tounay, representing the prefect of police of Paris.

John Paul [ones Commemoration 197

Outside the station there was a detachment from the One hundred and third
Regiment of Infantry, of the Paris garrison. Staff of the detachment: Capt. Lejay,
commanding; 2 lieutenants, i adjutant, i sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 8 corporals.

There was also a military band, also the One hundred and third Regiment of
Infantry.

After mutual salutes and the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" and the
"Marseillaise," the American escort and the French detachment proceeded along
the Rue de I'Universit^, avenue Centrale de I'Esplanade des Invalides, avenue de la
Motte-Piquet, avenue Duquesne, and avenue des Invalides, to the Ecole Militaire.
On the large central esplanade of the Ecole, called the " Cour de Fontenoy," three
tents had been erected — one as dining room for the noncommissioned and petty
officers of the American escort, another as dining room for the American sailors and
marines, and the third as baggage and washing room for the men.

Upon arrival at the Ecole Militaire, and after the men had been dismissed,
Col. Buisson d'Armandy, commanding the One hundred and third Regiment of
Infantry, and charged with the reception of the American escort, invited the
American and French officers to come into one of the tents and drink a glass of
champagne, Col. d'Armandy making a speech in English, in which he referred to
the close friendship existing between France and America. Lieut. Commander
George, in reply, proposed the health of the President of the Republic. Capt.
Tabary, of the One hundred and third Infantry, was in charge of the arrangements
at the Ecole Militaire. At i p. m. the American men sat down to the following
lunch: Jlousse de Jambon, olives, radis, beurre, saut^ de veau, American roast beef,
choux fleurs a I'huile, petits fours, half a liter of wine per man, coffee, rum.

In the meantime the American officers, with the exception of three, went to a
lunch offered them at the Cercle Militaire of Paris. The three American officers
remaining at the Ecole Militaire lunched with Capt. Tabary and other French
officers of the One hundred and third Infantry. Everything was done with great
liberalit}- and perfect courtesy.

At 1.30 a detachment of American sailors (body bearers) went to the American
Church, followed at 2.30 by the rest of the men.

The ceremony at the church was scheduled for 3.30. Practically the entire diplo-
matic corps of Paris was present. The name of the church is American Church of
the Holy Trinity, avenue de I'Alma, Paris. The service was conducted by the Rev.
John B. Morgan, assisted by the Rev. M. Van Winkle, Monsieur Mesny, and Doctor
TuUy. The first hymn sung was No. 418. Then followed the Lord's Prayer, then
prayer for the President of the United States, two other collects. Then hymn 107,
specially chosen, as all the rest, for some reference to "those who go down to the
sea in ships," etc. Then hymn 144. Then followed the fiftieth chapter of Genesis,
and Exodus, thirteenth chapter, nineteenth verse. Then two special prayers. Then
the hymn, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee; " Benediction. Hymn, "Onward, Christian
Soldiers."

At about 5 p. m. the procession formed and proceeded along the avenue de I'Alma,
avenue des Champs Elysees, avenue Alexandre III, Pont Alexandre III, to the
Esplanade des Invalides, where a tent or tribune had been constructed to receive
the body of Paul Jones and the members of the cortege. The body was deposited
there and the march past then took place. The French troops taking part therein
were the following:

General commanding the troops. General of Division Frey, commanding the First
Division of Colonial Infantry.

General commanding the infantry. Gen. de Chalendar, commanding the Four-
teenth Brigade of Infantry.

Infantry. — One hundred and second Regiment of Infantry, Col. Mollard, com-
manding.

igS Appendix

One hundred and fourth Regiment of Infantry, Col. Poline, commanding.
Each of these regiments consisted of about i,ooo men.

Cavalry. — First Regiment of Cuirassiers, Col. Foucault, commanding, about
350 men.

Artillery. — One group of horse batteries of the First Division of Cavalry, Com-
mandant Bernard, commanding, consisting of 2 horse batteries of 6 pieces each.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies the American sailors and marines returned to
the Ecole Militaire, where they dined, and left about 9.30 p. m. for the railway
station of the Invalides, accompanied by the same detachment that had received
them in the morning.

The police arrangements were in charge of Monsieur Lepine, prefect of police,
Monsieur Selves, prefect of the Seine, and Monsieur Tounay, subprefect.

There was no cheering, but every one in the crowd took his hat off at the passage
of the French and American flags and of the body of Paul Jones.

[Inclosure D.]

ADDRESS OF JUNIOR SPECIAL AMBASSADOR LOOMIS

IN PARIS

The nature of this occasion, coupled with the presence of the distinguished Amer-
ican who just finished speaking, reminds me that on the banks of the Hudson
River, high above the city of New York, commanding a prospect of uncommon
loveliness, stands a stately tomb erected in memory of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, a
President of the United States and perhaps its foremost soldier. That memorial
structure was erected by the American people, almost solely through the brilliant
initiative and tireless efforts of Gen. Horace Porter, who again has won the gratitude
of his countrymen on account of the complete ultimate success which has marked
his patient, persistent, self-sacriiicing search for the grave and body of John Paul
Jones; and France, ever generous, is about to crown the kindness shown to the
United States during its painful struggle for independence by returning, with
conspicuous honors, to that country the remains of the founder of the American
Navy, who by his brilliant victories proclaimed to the world the rise of a new sea
power, and flung to the breezes a new flag representing a new nation.

It is doubly generous on the part of France to surrender the dust of this hero to
us, for much of his life was interwoven with the French history of his day, and had
he been permitted to enjoy a few years more of health it is known that he would
have commanded the fleets of France.

It was from these hospitable shores that he set sail on the memorable cruise which
resulted in his victory over the Serapis. It was here that he experienced in the
highest degree the joys of a conqueror, and it was here that he met some of his
most grievous disappointments by reason of the penury and divided councils of
America's representatives, and by reason, too, of professional jealousies. Here,
laurel crowned, he returned from his cruise, an acknowledged hero, and received
with becoming modesty the plaudits of a most friendly people. Here he fulfilled
his gallant promise to lay a captured frigate at the feet of his friend and patroness,
the Duchess de Chartres, one of the best and loveliest French women of her century.
Here, too, from the hands of King Louis XVI, he received knighthood and a sword
of honor. Here were heaped upon him social attentions, admiration, and many
discriminating tributes of friendship and praise.

In the general environment of Paris and Versailles he found an atmosphere that
caused his heart to glow, his mind to broaden, his imagination to kindle with

John Paul Jones Commemoration 199

generous enthusiasm and lofty dreams for the welfare of mankind. It was in France
that Jones, one of nature's truest gentlemen, the lowly-born Scotch gardener's
sou, came to his own and found those things which made life most worth the
living, namely, the intelligent, sympathetic companionship of great men and lovely
women, coupled with opportunities for high endeavor and professional advancement
and the chance to draw his sword in defense of cherished principles.

To France John Paul Jones was chiefly indebted for those fateful and momentous
opportunities which, as a sea fighter, and, later, as a diplomatist, gave him a place
among those who have achieved enduring renown. His genius contributed largely to
the organization and construction of the American Navy, and in his letter to the
committee of the American Congress is set forth in admirable form the mental,
moral, and professional requirements essential to a naval officer. His words of
wisdom are as true, as apt, and as valuable to-day as they were the day they were
written. It is the thorough understanding and faithful adherence to the principles
so clearly and adequately expounded by John Paul Jones that gave to our naval
officers those qualities of heart and mind which enable them to command the
confidence of their countrymen and the respect of their professional colleagues
throughout the world.

Not only was John Paul Jones a philosopher, a commander, a leader of men, a
diplomatist, but in an age when letter writing was a delightful and mannered art
his epistles were noteworthy for their lucidity and charm of style.

This veritable sea king, around whose bier the representatives of two Republics
meet to pledge anew the time-hallowed and indestructible friendship and the
historic good will and amity which cement them, loved, in his broad, magnanimous
way, all that was admirable and lovable in the two peoples, and was willing to draw
his sword for France and America. To his own countrj' his services were but little
less useful on land than on sea. His diplomatic achievements and correspondence
indicate statecraft of a high order ; and it is said by one of the greatest living
authorities on naval affairs that, "Viewed in the light of results, Jones's diplomatic
operations in the Texel lose no luster by comparison with his victories at sea. ' '

So it may be justly said that he played his part as effectively on sea, considering
his limited opportunities, and accomplished as great results for his country, within
the scope of those opportunities, as did our foremost military commanders on land.
He fought with daring determination and the cool certainty of consummate skill,
not for the sake of carnage, not for the accumulation of prize money, but because
he was convinced that he was right, and, being so convinced, he meant to win vic-
tories at any cost for the principles he loved, and because he believed that fierce,
successful fighting was, in the end, the most merciful and the shortest pathway to
peace. He loved, of course, success and glory, but he was not a mere soldier of
fortune, a fiery captain athirst for blood, treasure, and conquest, yearning to tread
to eminence over men's graves. He could be great, either in peace or war. He
was profound, accomplished, many sided. He is entitled to distinction as a lover of
the human race, as a genial, optimistic philosopher, and to gratitude as a brilliant
conversationalist, whose wit, grace, and informing speech won, at a highly oppor-
tune moment, a vast deal of substantial good will for the American cause in Europe.

This symmetrically developed man was wholly self-made. His careful bioo--
rapher says: "Everything that he was, or that he did, or that he knew was the
fruit of self-incentive and self-help to a degree that was, and still is, unexampled
in the histories of great men. No successful man who ever lived owed so much to
himself alone, so little to the adventitious in circumstance."

One likes to dwell upon his achievements in the ways of peace, and upon his
devotion to what he believed to be good and sound political principles. Said he:
"I have drawn my sword only from motives of humanity and in support of the

200 Appendix

dignity of human rights." What warrior ever placed his martial activities upon
a higher and nobler plane than that? He fought for good and sound political and
moral doctrine. Love of liberty led him into the ranks of the American Revolution-
ists when the safer and easier course for him would have been to espouse the cause
of the King.

Two years' residenct in the American colonies as a. landed proprietor; careful
study of momentous governmental principles at issue; the friendship of such men
as Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Hewes, and other leaders of the period, was
enough, and more, to convince a man of his swift natural perception, originality of
ideas, profound and tireless observation, and logical, ordered thought, that a crisis
in human affairs had come; so he turned from the allurements of the throne and
resolutely trod the way he knew might lead him to the scaffold.

Fortune was not unkind to him always. He hoisted the first American flag that
ever flew from an American war vessel on his ship the Ranger. The flag was author-
ized and created by Congress in the same resolution, on the 14th of June, 1777,
which commissioned Jones a captain, and he said of the banner, "That flag and I
are twins, born at the same hour in the womb of destiny. We can not be parted in
life or death. So long as we shall float, we shall float together; if we sink, we shall
go down as one."

Under this flag he came to France the same 3'ear, bearing ofiicial information of
Burgoyne's surrender; information which had much to do in causing Louis XVI to
recognize the independence of the United States.

It was at this period, February 14, 1778, that the French naval commander at
Brest fired the first salute ever given by a foreign nation to the American flag — an
historic and important event which was arranged through the diplomacy of John
Paul Jones.

With this great sailor, love of freedom was innate and natural as love for the sea.
Beginning his ocean career at 12, he became familiar with the sensation of looking
out upon illimitable vistas of water. He studied the pathway of the winds, the
sweep of ocean currents by day, and the positions and the movements of the stars
at night, facing the infinite, and with imminent peril for his unfailing companion.
His seafaring life was an experience to shrivel a small, to uplift a noble and great
nature. For we may suppose, during these years, something of the strength and
purity of the sea entered his soul and abided evermore. His love for his fellow-men
caused him, at that early date, to detest the institution of human slavery, and later,
to refuse to resume his plantation life after the war, for the reason that, under the
then existing economic social conditions, agricultural success could only be achieved
through the employment of slave labor.

John Paul Jones died in France at the period when France had great need of his
services; and Napoleon deplored the untimely death that robbed him of a great
admiral. The conjunction of these two warriors of genius might have changed the
history of the world.

America unfortunately exemplified the adage that republics are ungrateful, for in
the stress and struggle of building a new country, she forgot for a time her departed
hero. France, be it said to her credit, remembered Paul Jones in appropriate, hand-
some, and touching ways, showing as ever her keen and splendid appreciation of
genius and valor — an appreciation which is magnanimous and magnificent in its
scope, knowing neither race nor nationality.

The National Assembly of France when notified of John Paul Jones's death, on
the 19th of July, 1792, paid immediate and appropriate respect to his memory, by
suspending the order of the day, adopting a suitable resolution, and appointing a
committee of twelve members to attend his funeral.

In the latest biography of Admiral Joues it is stated that before the resolution
was adopted in silence by a rising vote, a member of the Assembly said: "I trust

J o k 71 Pa til Jones C onini e ni o r a tion 201

the feeling of personal bereavement universal in this body may be granted brief
expression. What Paul Jones has done for the rights of men need not be told to
Frenchmen. What more he stood pledged almost with his last breath to do if spared
is known to many Frenchmen."

Bertrand Barere, then at the height of his fame as a powerful and popular orator,
delivered from the portico of the palace of justice an impassioned oration on the
achievements of his dead friend, John Paul Jones. The first memoir of Jones vpas
published by Benoit-Andr^ in 1798.

Think for a moment what opportunity for the biographer his brief but crowded
career presents! Sailor boy at 12, officer at 17, captain at 20, in the merchant service
of the North Atlantic; East Indiamanand Virginia planter— all before he had passed
the age of 27; naval lieutenant at 28, captain at 29, commodore at 32, the ocean hero
of the Old World and the New at 33; a knight of Prance; the most famous sea victor
of his time; patronized by kings, petted by duchesses of the royal blood, thanked
by Congress, and the trusted friend and sometimes associate of Washington, Frank-
lin, Jefferson, La Fayette, Hamilton, and Morris; at 36 selected as special envoy to
the most aristocratic of courts, charged with the most delicate and intricate of mis-
sions — the adjudication and collection of international claims — without any guide
or precedent; at 40, voted a gold medal by Congress; at 41, a vice-admiral in the
imperial navy of Russia, and winning victories over the Turks; at 43 a prominent
figure in the thrilling overture of that tremendous drama, the French Revolution,
and dead at 45; disinterred one hundred and thirteen years later from a dismal and
forgotten grave, and brought here this afternoon, receiving merited honors too long
delayed.

I have the honor, on behalf of the President of the United States, to accept the
custody of the casket which incloses the remains of Admiral Jones, and to commit
them to the worthy hands of Admiral Sigsbee. They will be borne over the seas he
loved back to the land he served so well, where I am confident the justice and gen-
erosity of a great people will move them to render ample homage to the memory of
a man to whom all the world ungrudgingly awards the august meed of immortal
fame.

[Inclosure E.]

ADDRESS OF REAR-ADMIRAI. SIGSBEE, U. S. NAVY,

IN PARIS

Mr. Ambassador: I am here in command of a squadron of United States war
vessels, and am charged with the transportation of the remains of Admiral John Paul
Jones to the United States.

Although it was largely by the aid of France that our hero fought so conspicuousl}',
he fought in the service and for the cause of the United States. It is therefore fitting
that his remains should find their last resting place within our own boundaries.
Since he was the greatest of our earliest naval commanders, it is appropriate that his
remains should be transferred to the guardianship of the naval service.

The President of the United States, in the exercise of his ever friendly and correct
judgment in all that pertains to the naval service of his country, has decided that
the remains shall be deposited in perpetuity within the walls of the chapel of the
Naval Academy at Annapolis. It can not be doubted that their presence in that
institution will serve as an inspiration and as an example to all future generations of
our Navy. Our President had this object in mind when he chose the Naval Academy.

It will be remembered by the Navy of the United States that these remains of a
naval ofi&cer were recovered through the initiative and the efforts of Gen. Horace

202 Appendix

Porter, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The Army
and Navy of the United States therefore come together in patriotic and fraternal
sentiment on this occasion. General Porter may be well assured that my own appre-
ciation of his labors is shared by the whole naval service, which he has so greatly
honored. We shall ever regard him affectionately.

The occasion which calls us here has also served to bring together, in remembrance
of our joint history, the army and navy of France and the Army and Navy of the
United States. If ever the gratitude of the United States to France may seem to be
latent, we Americans have only to open a history of our war for independence in
order to quicken our sentiments and to compel our blessings.

I take advantage of this opportunity, Mr. Ambassador, to request you to express,
through appropriate channels and in behalf of myself and the whole personnel of
my command, our thanks for the many honors paid us by the President of France
and by the personnel — civil, military, and naval — of his Government and of the city
of Paris. Their action signalizes the interest of the French people in the object of
our present mission to France. Our time has been so filled by honors and events
that I fail to conceive any other way of acknowledging our indebtedness within the
time remaining at our disposal.

I beg also, Mr. Ambassador, to present to the American ambassador at Paris, to
General Porter, and to yourself the thanks of my officers and myself for the kind
consideration, both official and personal, that you have severally shown us in con-
nection with the duty to which we have been appointed.

I am here, as you well know, Mr. Ambassador, as the naval representative of the
Navy Department at Washington. I am directed in my orders from the Navy
Department to receive from you these remains. You have decided to transfer them
to my charge in Paris. Therefore I hereby accept from you the honor and the
further responsibility, with the assurance that my command will bear the remains
of John Paul Jones most reverently to their final resting place within the Naval
Academy at Annapolis.

[Inclosure F.]

ADDRESS OF VICE-ADMIRAI. BESSON, AT CHERBOURG

[Translation by Prof. H. Marion.]

Admiral and Gentlemen: You are longing to take on board the Brooklyn^
where they will at last rest on the territory and under the flag of the United States,
these venerated remains of Admiral Paul Jones. I understand your patriotic impa-
tience ; therefore I shall not detain you to listen to a new eulogy on the well-known
and so marvelously successful career of your illustrious compatriot.

But at the moment when his ashes are about to leave the hospitable land which
for one hundred and thirteen years has carefully guarded them in her bosom, it is
my duty to give to them, in the name of the French navy, a last salute.

Your hearts, as well as ours, are to-day closely brought together in common sym-
pathy. In the month of February, 1778, in the Bay of Quiberon, the squadron com-
mander in chief. Da Motte-I'iquet, was the first to salute the starry flag of the young
Republic of the United States. This flag was that of Commodore Jones.

And truly, upon this solemn occasion, there was none more worthy than this
gallant sailor to represent his country and to receive for her this public declaration
of her admission to the ranks of nations.

After some brilliant ser\'ices rendered the cause of independence in American
waters, he had been directed to make a diversion in European waters, and was
returning at that time from a memorable cruise in the Irish Sea. He was then, as

John Paul Jones Commemoration 203

commander of a squadron of French ships, sailing under American colors on the
eve of that famous battle off Flamborough, the most extraordinary in his life, so
rich already in remarkable deeds.

It is my privilege to recall that Paul Jones led French vessels to victory; that his
brilliant achievements caused him to be received among us with an enthusiastic
welcome; that at the outbreak of our Revolution he again offered to serve in our
navy, and that when, a short time afterwards, he died, at the age of 45, our legisla-
lative assembly attended his funeral.

It is therefore to one of our own brothers in arms of the end of the eighteenth
century that we render the last honors.

This hero, whose exploits have given much brilliant luster to the dawn of the
American Navy, is one of those who have most contributed in cementing these ties
of friendship between our two nations, yet unbroken after more than a century.

In the name of the French navy, I salute with respect the memory of Admiral
Paul Jones, and I hope that the ashes of this illustrious sailor may speedily accom-
plish their triumphal return to his grateful country, which now reclaims him.

THE CEREMONIES AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY
JULY 24, 1905

[Extract from "John Paul Jones's I^ast Cruise and Final Resting Place, the United .States Naval
Academy," by Prof, H, Marion,]

On Monday morning, July 24, the body of America's greatest naval hero was
transferred from the Brooklyn to the Naval Academy on the naval tug Standi sh ,
amid the booming of guns fired in his honor by the American and French men-of-
war, and placed in the temporary vault that had been erected for this purpose.

The ceremonies at the Naval .Academy were purely of a naval character, neither
President Roosevelt nor Governor Warfield, of Maryland, being present. They
took place at 10 a. m., when the remains were landed from the Standish on a beau-
tifully decorated float in the basin facing the Severn River. Everything was done
with the same precision and clocklike regularity that had characterized the whole
expedition from beginning to end, and nothing happened to mar the solemnity of
the occasion. After a heavy rain, which lasted until the early morning hours,
the sun shone brightly when the naval hero's remains reached the American
shore. They were met at the float by Rear-Admiral Sands, Superintendent of the
Naval Academy, Chaplain Clark, and the commanding officers of the American men-
of-war of the squadron who acted as pallbearers with Captain Gervais, of the_/«nV«
de la Graviere, who had sent a detachment of sailors from his ship to act as an
escort of honor with the sailors and marines of the American ships and the midship-
men of the fourth class of the Naval Academy.

After the leaden cofi&n had been placed in the hearse, the cortege proceeded slowly,
accompanied by the strains of a funeral dirge played by the Naval Academy band,
to the front of the temporary vault, near the new memorial chapel, where Chaplain
Clark read the burial service and offered the following prayer:

"God of our fathers, we praise Thee for the life and memory of him whose mortal
remains are now to find resting place under the flag he so loved, in the nation he
did so much to create. We thank Thee that Thou didst show in him qualities of
manhood that not only create but preserve and perpetuate nations. As all that is
earthly of him is committed to the reverent care and devotion of the land whose
debt to him is beyond all price, may the sublime lessons of his courage and patience
and resource and hopefulness and consecration be charged anew with moral power

204 Appendix

to more deeply fire and impress every American heart. Grant that the nation so
rich in the heritage of great names may more and more guide its life by standards
of highest honor and righteousness. Free us from every motive that can pervert
our deeds, that can hurt our influence among the nations of the earth. Make us
equal to our high trust, reverent in our use of freedom, just in the exercise of
power, tender and pitiful toward ignorance and weakness; and may we walk
lovingly and humbly in Thy sight, in all these ways endeavoring to show the depth
of our gratitude for the men who, by the greatness of Thy call to them and in the
execution of the work allotted to them, made us a sovereign people, made possible
the greatness and the happiness that crown our national life. Hear us, our
Heavenly Father, in this our prayer, for Christ's sake."

When the prayer had been concluded the French and American sailors who acted
as body bearers carried the casket into the vault while the Naval Academy band
played Chopin's Funeral March.

The pallbearers then stepped back and saluted the dead hero, a squad of marines
fired a volley over the vault, and a bugler sounded taps, the strains of this exquisite
tune dying out slowly, listened to by a large crowd of reverent spectators who
witnessed the ceremony in dead silence. It was a most solemn and impressive
spectacle, forming a fitting finale to the ceremonies that had taken place in
France in honor of the famous sea captain.

Thus ended this beautiful ceremon}', which now goes down to history as one of the
most impressive demonstrations of international honors ever paid to a naval hero.

ORDER OF REAR-ADMIRAL SANDS

United States Naval Academy,

Annapolis., Md., April 14., igo6.

The President of the United States, the Secretary of the Navy, and other distin-
guished personages will visit the Naval Academy upon the 24th instant to take part
in the commemorative ceremonies upon the occasion of the transfer of the body of
John Paul Jones. The heads of departments will accompany the Superintendent to
the station to meet the special trains and escort the distinguished visitors to the
Superintendent's quarters.

2. At 12.45 P- in- the marine battalion and the band will be drawn up opposite the
Superintendent's quarters to receive the President upon his arrival. After the Presi-
dential party has entered the house, the marine battalion will be dismissed and will
be detailed as patrols and sentinels, as directed by the commandant of midshipmen.

3. The brigade will be in charge of Lieutenant-Commander Hoogewerff, U. S. Navy,
assisted by Lieutenant-Commander Reid and Lieutenant Buchanan, U. S. Navy.

4. The commandant of midshipmen is charged with carrying out the detail of this
order, and all ofScers, professors, and instructors, except the heads of departments,
are directed to report to him for this purpose.

5. The first battalion of midshipmen will form at 1.30 p. m., as for Sunday inspec-
tion, in the court before Bancroft Hall, having previously procured their muskets
and equipments and taken them to their rooms. They will then march to the ath-
letic field, Upshur row, to receive the President. This battalion will be on the linu
at 1.45 p. m. sharp, to act as a guard to the President.

6. The second battalion of midshipmen will form and equip as above, then proceed
to' the armory, forming in line from Governor street to the southeast door of the
armory, leaving the sidewalk clear. The battalions will, subsequently, enter the
armory by tlie northwest door. In case of bad weather, the battalions will be formed
in the corridors of Bancroft Hall.

John Paul Jones Commemoration 205

7. The Naval Academy Band will report to Commander Howard at the armory for
instructions at 1.15 p. m. The band will accompany the first battalion of midship-
men to Upshur row.

8. All officers, civilian professors and instructors, and the members of their families
holding tickets of admission will enter the armory by the gallery door from the
colonnade and occupy such seats as will be provided for them. All persons will be
required to present tickets at the door. Ushers will be appointed to attend in the
armory and show visitors to designated seats.

9. All visitors holding tickets for reserved seats will enter by the northeast door.
All other visitors will enter by the northwest and southeast doors.

10. The President, escorted by the first battalion of midshipmen and the band,
will proceed from the Superintendent's quarters to the armory and enter by the
southwest door. When the President enters the armory the audience will rise, face
him, and remain standing until he takes his seat on the platform. As soon as the
President and party have reached the platform the first battalion of midshipmen
will be drawn up under the gallery opposite the speakers' stand, facing the platform.
The second battalion will be drawn up behind the speakers' stand under the gallery.
Benches will be provided for them on which to sit after the ceremonies have com-
menced. The ceremonies will then proceed in accordance with the programme.

11. At the conclusion of the speeches the body will be taken by the body bearers
(selected petty officers from the French and American squadrons) and, preceded by
both battalions of midshipmen in regular order and the band playing a dirg,-, be
borne to Bancroft Hall. The court of honor must be kept clear and the midshipmen
will form in mass on either side as the body passes up the steps to be deposited in
the crypt beneath the main stairway. The space in front of Bancroft Hall is to be
kept clear. The chaplain will precede the coffin and offer a brief prayer at the
conclusion of the ceremony.

12. When the ceremonies over the body have been concluded, the President will
be escorted to the Superintendent's quarters by the brigade of midshipmen.

13. When the President departs, the officers of the Naval Academy and the brigade
of midshipmen will be in attendance.

14. The formation of the procession from the armory will be as follows:
Band.

Escort (brigade of midshipmen).

Chaplain of the Naval Academy.

Coffin.

Mourners (reversed order).

15. The uniform for the day, after 12 m., will be special full dress.

16. No vehicles, except those in the Presidential procession, will be permitted to
enter the Academy grounds while the ceremonies are in progress.

James H. Sands,
Rear-Admiral, U. S. Navy, Superintendent.

ORDER OF CAPTAIN COI.VOCORESSES, U. S. NAVY

[Extract.]

United States Nav.vi, Acadejiv,

Annapolis, Md. , April 21, igo6.
In accordance with the Superintendent's order of April 14, 1906, the following
details of duty are hereby made for the carrying out of that order during the John
Paul Jones ceremonies on April 24, 1906:''

a Details of officers and stations omitted. — Compiler.

2o6 Appendix

The armory will not be opened to the public vintil i p. m.

A medical officer and a sufficient force of attendants will be at the hospital during
the ceremonies.

Lieut. Commander H. J. Ziegemeier, U. S. Navy, will report to Lieutenant-
Commander Hoogewerff for immediate charge of the casket and body bearers during
the ceremonies and transfer of the casket. He will be assisted by Lieutenant
Jeffers, U. S. Navy.

At the close of the ceremonies in the armory, when the President and distin-
guished persons who are to be in the cortege have left the armory, all passing
through the northwest doors will be stopped, and the audience will leave the armory
by the southeast, northeast, and terrace doors, going from the doors to the western
terrace of Bancroft Hall.

The ushers, when not needed in the armory, will assist in placing the public on
the terrace.

Twelve midshipmen from the upper classes of the second battalion will be detailed
to report to Lieutenant-Commander Nulton at the armory at 12.45 P- ™-

All officers and others named in this order, who are not on duty at that time, will
report for instruction at the office of the commandant, Bancroft Hall, at 10 a. m.,
24th instant.

The French and American battalions will be placed in line by direction of the
commandant, first formation facing Blake row from Maryland avenue to the armory,
French battalions on the right, other battalions in order of seniority, and salute the
President as he passes. They will afterwards take up a position facing Bancroft
Hall on the brick walk from library to Blake row. When the United States cavalry
join the formation, they will occupy the right of the line.

The casket containing the remains of Admiral Jones will be placed in the armory
early in the forenoon of the 24th by men from the Santee, under the supervision of
the officer in charge of buildings and grounds.

Twenty body bearers, selected petty ofiicers of the French and American fleets,
will be chosen to carry the casket from the armory to Bancroft Hall by way of the
shell road.

The space in front of Bancroft Hall between the Superintendent's office and
library and Sampson's row must be kept clear of spectators.

G. P. COLVOCORESSES,

Captain, U. S. Navy, Commandant of Midshipmen .

I.IST OF COMMANDING OFFICERS IN THE FRENCH AND

AMERICAN NAVAL FORCES ASSEMBI.ED

AT ANNAPOLIS

Rear-Admiral Sands, U. S. Navy, Superintendent Naval Academy.

Rear-Admiral Campion, commanding French Division.

Rear-Admiral C. H. Davis, U. S. Navy, commanding Second Division.

Rear-Admiral R. B. Bradford, U. S. Navy, commanding Fifth Division.

Capt, B. F. Tilley, U. S. Navy, commanding Iowa.

Capt. E. D. Taussig, U. S. Navy, commanding Indiana.

Capt. G. Lefevre, commanding Aube.

Capt. J. A. Rodgers, U. S. Navy, commanding Illinois.

Capt. E. Guepratte, commanding Marseillaise.

Capt. A. Hut;uet, commanding Condi.

Capt. G. P. Colvocoresses, U. S. Navy, conmiandant of midshipmen.

Capt. S. P. Comly, U. S. Navy, commanding Alabama.

FACSIMILE OF \Hi

206

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Capt. E. Gnepr-ittf-, conmianding ,Varirt//aisf.
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Capt. G. P. Colvoco't's'.' s ('. S. Navi', ...-"i.,,.,iHbid -.
Capt. S T Coinly, TJ.S. ^';,^y, loituna.:-: :'.- ,;'>'•.■■■

COMnEMORATION

or
JOHN- PAUL -dONE^.

APPII. 24™, 1906

NAVAL ACADE/AY.

ANNAPOLIJ,
MACrt'LAND.

FACSIMILE OF COVER OF PROGRAMME, APRIL 24, 1906.

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John Paul Jones Commemoration 207

Commander E. F. Qualtrough, TJ. S. Navy, commanding Cleveland.

Commander W. F. Halsey, U. S. Navy, commanding Des Moi?ies.

Commander B. A. Fisk, U. S. Navy, commanding Minneapolis.

Commander J. C. Colwell, U. S. Navy, commanding Denver.

Commander J. Batellet, Chief of Staff.

Commander E. Vergos, Executive officer Aube.

Commander F. Boyer, Executive officer Ma7-seillaise.

Commander M. Delahet, Executive officer Conde.

Lieut. Commander A. G. Long, U. S. Navy, commanding Mayflower.

PROGRAMME

PARTICIPATED IN BY

Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the United States.

His Excellency, J. J. JussERAND,
Ambassador E. and P. of the French Republic.

The Honorable Chari,es J. Bonaparte,
Secretary of the Navj",

The Honorable Edwin Warfiei<d,
Governor of the State of Maryland.

General Horace Porter,
of New York.

Chaplain Henry H. Clark, U. S. N.

With Music by the Oratorio Society of Baltimore,

Under the direction of Joseph Pache,

And the U. S. Marine Band,

Under the direction of Lieut. W. H. Santelmann.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" Oratorio Society

Address The President of the United States

"The Marseillaise " Oratorio Society

Address The French Ambassador

"Around About Thy Starry Throne,'' Handel Oratorio Society

Address General Porter

"Maryland, My Maryland " Oratorio Society

Address Governor Warfield

" Hovi' Sleep the Brave " Oratorio Society

At the conclusion of the exercises, the audience is requested to rise and remain
standing while the casket is removed from the hall.

2o8 Appendix

DESCRIPTION OF THE SWORD PRESENTED BY LOUIS XVI
TO JOHN PAUL JONES

This fine specimen of the sword-smith's craft is now owned by Mr. Richard Dale,
of Philadelphia. It was kindly lent by him and brought to Annapolis by Dr. W.
Wharton Hollingsworth, representing the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincin-
nati, for the commemorative exercises of April 24, 1907, and was lying on the
casket during the services. It was in the custody of Capt. George P. Colvocoresses,
U. S. Navy, until its return to Mr. Dale.

The blade is a four-sided, double-edged rapier, of finest steel, 33^^ inches long,
tapering to a point, and blued for 1 1 inches from the hilt. Inlaid in gold are figures
representing the sun, trophies, and the French royal arms of three fleurs de lis, sur-
mounted by a crown. The motto "Vive le Roy" is engraved on both sides. The
following inscription" (somewhat illegible, as the gold inlay has fallen out in
places) is below the guard plate:

VINDICATI MARIS

I.UDOVICDS XVI

REMUNERATOR
STRENUO VINDICI.

On the reverse side is lightly engraved a motto which has become obliterated by
time.

The name of the maker, or more probably the furnisher, is on the blade: "La
Veuve Guilmino, Versailles."

The hilt is of gold, richly chased with figures and floral decorations. The pommel
is made up of two designs, the figure of Neptune with his trident in high relief, and
the three fleurs de lis. The grip is ornamented on the obverse with figures of
Hercules and Mars in medallions, festoons, and ribbons held in the mouth of a
mythological animal, and a standard of flags; the reverse side shows the three fleurs
de lis, Roman soldier, trophies, and Greek soldier.

The upper surface of the guard plate is ornamented on both sides; on one, in a
medallion, is the figure of Minerva standing, also a rising sun; on the other, is Mars.
The lower surface of the plate has a similar medallion of Minerva and fleur de lis.
The pas d'ane and finger guard are beautifully chased with floral designs and termi-
nate in dolphin heads.

The scabbard is of black leather, the mountings of gold, engraved with trophies
and arms. The drag is quite plain. The sword is in a wooden case, fitted to its
shape and lined with chamois skin and the outside covered with red morocco leather.

JOHN PAUL JONES'S SWORD

[Newspaper extract, Washington Evening Star, December 27, 1906.]

In practically the same condition as when it was used by its distinguished owner,
the sword of John Paul Jones now rests in the Library of the Navy Department,
where it has been placed by Commander Reginald F. Nicholson, U. S. Xavj-. The
tradition was that Jones wanted it to be given to the senior officer of the Navy, but
that, however, has never been established, and the sword has been in the possession
of a number of persons outside the Navy. It is believed that the weapon originally

"This inscription has been erroneously publi.shed as "Vindicator Ludovicus XVI
remunerator strenuo victor" in Proceedings of the Numismatic and Antiqua-
rian Society of Philadelphia, 1904-5, p. 41, and in proceedings of the U. S. Naval
Institute, June, 1907, p. 711.

John Paul [ones Commemoration 209

was given to Jones b)' the North Carolina family of that name at the time he
changed his own name, in compliment to them.

From the best records obtainable, some of which are verified by letters and other
documents in the Navy Department, the sword was given by Jones himself to
Theodosia Burr, daughter of Aaron Burr. Theodosia Burr, after marrying Joseph
Alston, a wealthy and talented young planter of South Carolina, who in after years
became governor of the State, presented it to Judge Matthew Davis, of Charleston,
who gave it to Reverend Doctor Ducachet, of Philadelphia. The latter gave it to
Commodore Somerville Nicholson, U. S. Navy, and the Commodore gave it to its
present owner, Commander Nicholson.

It is 30 inches long — longer than the cutlass — and is of the style commonly termed
=1 "gentleman's sword," in vogue in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It is
beautiful in design, very strong, and highly tempered. The qualities as to shape
and temper are very remarkable. The hilt is of white brass with the portion known
technically as the basket broken away. The tang is wide and strong, and the grip
piece of the handle is of wood covered with twisted copper wire.

A number of scars appear on the edge of the blade, indicating that Jones frequently
had been engaged in hand-to-hand encounters.

I.IST OF RECIPIENTS OF CASTS FROM THE BUST OF JOHN
PAUIy JONES IN THE NATIONAI^ ACADEMY OF DESIGN,
NEW YORK

[From memoranduta of Mr. Frank D. MiUet, under whose direction these casts were made and

distributed.]

Fourteen casts in plaster and six in bronze were made in 1904 from the plaster
terra-cotta colored bust of John Paul Jones by Houdon.

A cast in plaster was furnished to each of the following persons and institutions:

National Academy of Design, New York.

Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, D. C.

Trocadero Museum, Paris.

National Museum, Berlin.

South Kensington Museum, I/)ndon.

Mr. Herbert Adams, New York.

Mr. Irving R. Wiles, New York.

Mr. J. Alden Weir, New York.

Mr. Sargent Kendall, New York.

Capt. John S. Barnes, New York.

Mr. John 1^. Cadwalader, New York.

Mr. F. D. Millet, in England.

Mr. F. D. Millet, in New York.

Bronze founder in New York (plaster cast ruined in making casts in bronze).
A cast in bronze was furnished to each of the following persons and institutions:

Navy Department, Washington, D. C.

U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

Gen. Horace Porter, New York.

Mr. J. Alden Weir, New York.

Capt. John S. Barnes, New York.

Mr. John I. Waterbury, Morristown, N. J.

Note. — The frontispiece in this volume and the Trocadero bust, used in identifica-
tion of Jones's body were furnished by Mr. Frank D. Millet, from the original
plaster terra-cotta colored bust in the National Academy of Design, New York. It has
been suggested that this is the original made by Houdon's hands in 1780. — Computer.

7257—07—14

2IO Appendix

NOTES REGARDING JOHN PAUL JONES

The miniature of John Paul Jones, said to have been painted by the Countess de
La Vendahl, is at the United States Naval Academy. It came into the possession
of the United States Navy through Lieut. A. B. Pinkham. (See Mackenzie, Life
of Paul Jones, and article by Prof. P. R. Alger in Naval Institute, 1905. )

The gold sword presented to Jones by King Louis XVI is owned by Mr. Richard
Dale, of Philadelphia. The history of this weapon is given in proceeding of U. S.
Naval Institute, June, 1907, by Mr. Charles Henry Hart. Another sword, once
owned by Jones, is the property of Commander R. F. Nicholson, U. S. Navy.

Miss Curtis, of Schenectady, N. Y., claims to possess the original of Jones's com-
mission of October 10, 1776. On a facsimile copy, in Sherburne's life of John Paul
Jones, edition of 1851, it is stated that the original was owned by Sherburne.

The uniform of the Navy, as worn by Jones, is given in Sherburne's "Life," etc.,
and American Archives, series 5, vol. 2, p. 181, Res. Marine Committee, Sept. 5, 1776.

Description of the Order of Military Merit is given in Nouveau Larousse, vol. 16,
p. 38, and files of Navy Department library. No. 3702.

Lists of those who served on ships commanded by Jones are in Sherburne's and
Buell's biographies and copies of the log books.

Songs, verses, and poems referring to Jones: See naval song books, Paul Jones
Miscellany, Seawell, Brady, and other lives. Verses by him are in Sherburne and
other biographies.

Mention that Jones experimented with torpedoes. (See Life by M. E. Seawell.)

Coat of mail worn by Jones, mentioned in New York Times, July 15, 1905. (See
John Paul Jones Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. i, p. 57.)

Private Signals, John Paul Jones Miscellany, vol. 3, "John Paul Jones's Last
Cruise," by Prof. H. Marion.

A flag of the Bonhomme Richard is at U. S. National Museum. (See John Paul
Jones Miscellany, vol. 2, pt. i.)

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