Copies of the Remarks in the Log Book of the Bon Homme Richard, now in the possession of the Selkirk family.

Remarkes on Wednessday. Sept the 22 1779

This 24 hourses Begins with a Litte Brieze of wind and Showry weather att 3 PM saw a Sail and att 4 PM Took him at ½ peast 4 took him in tow and att 6 P.M saw a flet of 16 Sailes Larg and Small Signleled the prize and Cast him off and made a Signel and made sail after them the peallice gave Chace to on that was to Leeward and the Veangence come with us att 7. P M Lost Sitte of them and att 8 got Sitte of on and gave Chace and att 9 tak Ship

att 11 P M Cam up with the Chace so near as to give hire a gun and fired a nomber of gunes att hire But Sh Did not Bring too att wore Ship and spid a Sail ahead which was the Veangance att ½ peast 12 saw a Sail and att 1 a m Spok with him & She proved to Be a Bridg from otterdam we hoisted out the Small Boat and Sent an offsir and 2 hands to take Charge of here and 2 hands to fich the Boat and prissoners a Bord and mad Sail

att 8 a m Cald all hands to Quarters Saw a Ship in Shore hoisted a jack att the fore top galmast head for a poilot att 9 we saw 2 poilot Bots aComing att 10 one Borded us att ½ peast 10 the other Borded the prise we mand first Boat and Sent to the prise and Brought the other aBord

Remarkes on Thursday Sept the 23: 1779

This 24 Hourses Begins with a Litte Breze of wind and Raniey weather the wind Vearible Att 4 P. M toek the Littel Sloop pulot in tow att healef peast to sent Shooneur pilot Boat to go a Bord of the prise Bridg to sink hir But seeing hir make Sail for the Land hald the Boat to Come Beack att ½ Peast 5 the Boat got a Long Sid and we took hir in tow a Stairn of the other att 6PM Spirean Littes Bor W N W Distance 6 Leagues att ½ peast 11 P M Saw two Sailes att 1 A. M Cald all hands att 2 A M all to Quearters att ½ peast 2 hoistd 3 Littes 1 fowd 1 amid Shipes & 1 afte att ¾ peast 2 hoistd 2 more Leites att the mirzon peak Laid the m & mison top Sailes to the mast the Sailes Shod a Litte att 4 wore Ship att 5 A M hisde a Chuckerd flag att the mezin peak att ½ peast 5 found them to Be the Elliance and pealaice two of our Cone Sortes or twoo of our flete

Remarks on Friday 24th.. September 1779

The First part of this twenty four Hours clear and Pleasant Weather with Moderate Breeses of Wind—— At 3 P.M. sent the small Schooner with Mr. Lunt and A Number of Marines in her to Board a Schooner Brigg to the Windward of us at ½ past Do. the Alliance hove out a Signal and bore away we immediately fir'd a gun for the Schooner to give over Chase and kept away—— at 4 sett Steering Sails fore and aft (in Chase of two Ships) At 6 P.M. Hoisted a Blue flag Blue Pendant & a Blue & Yellow Flag At ½ past Do. came up with the largest Ship and engaged her; the Alliance engag'd the small Ship which soon struck. Att 8 A.M. the Alliance came under our stern and Rak'd us fore & aft. She then shot just ahead of us and did the like again, we were all this time closely engag'd with our Antagonist lying so near each other that our Yard Arms was within her's; at 10 P.M. She Struck her Colours and prov'd to be the Searuppus of 44 Guns soon after She Struck her Main Mast fell over her side. The People employed in putting fire out that had catch'd in several parts of the Ship & in Pomping for we were very near sinking; The Ship that the Alliance Took prov'd to be the Scarborough of 20 Guns

Editor's Note: The foregoing are copies of the entries or Remarks in "A Log Book for the Ship Bon Homme Richard, the Honorible John Paul Jones Commander begun at L'Orient Saturday, 8th of May 1779," of which a typewritten copy is in the Navy Department Library, and the original is supposed to be now in the possession of the Selkirk family at St. Mary's Isle.

Facsimiles of the three Remarks of the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of September are also in the Navy Department Library. The entries of the 22nd and 23rd are in the same handwriting, and of similar orthography, as are the preceding Remarks in that log. The handwriting of the Remarks on Friday the 24th is that of Lieut. Henry Lunt, who also wrote the Remarks on the same day in the Serapis' log book.

There are no entries in the column of Knots, F., Courses, Wind, for which the pages are ruled, for those days.

If this log was the regular Ship's Journal, it is remarkable that it should have been kept by a man whose handwriting and orthography were so bad as to be decipherable with difficulty. That the record of the transactions on the eventful 24th day of September on the Richard and Serapis and the following days should have been delegated to Lieutenant Lunt and Midshipman Groube seems to have been thought desirable by some one in authority.

APPENDIX B.

Copy of a Letter from Captain James Nicholson to Captain John Barry, Commanding U. S. Frigate Alliance.

Philada. June 24th 1781.—

Dr. Barry,

After congratulating you on your safe arrival and success, I shall without any apoligy relate to you what has been Transacting in this Quarter relative to rank for this week past, it still hangs over our head & requires every Exertion of Interest to prevent its taking place. The Attempt has been bold & Daring and is only equaled by the man who made it.

The Chevalier ever since his arrival in this City has devoted his time, privately, by making personal application to the Individual members of Congress to give him rank at the head of our Navy, and after Interesting (by being an accomplished Courtior), every member who was week, or of his own stamp in his favor, hands into Congress a Narritive of his services from the beginning of time containing the best part of a Quire of paper, and attended with a modest petition seting forth the injustice he had done him in the Establishment of rank and desire of redress &ca. This had the desired effect, and he had a Committee of Congress consistg. of Genl. Vernon, Mr. Mathews & Mr. Clymer appointed to enquire into his Claim and to make report, they accordingly did and in his favor. Congress was upon the point of taking the report up, and I have too much reason to believe woud have gratified the hight of his ambition had we not by the greatest accident discovered it, this was done by information a member of Congress gave Mrs. Reade in whose house he lived, he was also on the most familiar terms with myself, so far he had proceeded without the least suspisian on our side. As soon as I was informed of it, I immediately took my Hat and with very little Ceremony waited on the President of Congress at his house, & informed what I had heard, he received me politely & told me my suspisians was just, I therefore desired as my right that Congress might delay determining on it untill Cap. Reade & myself in behalf of ourselves & the absent brother officers equally concerned, should have an opportunity of being heard, which he promised me his Interest to have done, and that day Cap. Reade & myself threw in our remonstrance to Congress a Copy of mine you have Enclosed, the Consequence of which was the Committee was ordered to reconsider it and to give us notice to attend, we according did & found Cap. Jones without doors in conferance with two of them, Cap. Jones did not attend, I desired the Chairman would send for him, the reason I assigned was that I would say many things in his presence that I would not in his absence, he sent word that he would wait on us but never came, we found the President & Mr. Mathews predetermined in his favor, but Mr. Climer otherwise, after pointing out the absurdity of his claim which proceeded from a Brevial from Commodore Hopkins to the Command of the Sloop Providence were from his own claim, Capts. Whipple, Hallock, yourself, & Alexander where Capts. before him. I say after pointing out this to them, the Presidt. appeared to be convinced, but if so in reality I wont pretend to say. We had a good deal of conversation with the Committee, Mr. Mathews alone seemed his most strenious advocate and in my oppinion behaved obstinate & ungentiel. I said many things pretty severe of the Chevaliers private as well as Public Carrector too odious to mention and yet unnoticed, upon the whole we acquited ourselves well. It happened five days ago and they have not yet made their report. Should it be in his favor again, I have some reason to believe the honest part as well as those who had been imposed on from their ignorance about our Naval Transactions and the method of Establishing rank, are now sufficiently alarmed, and should the report be taken up at all, they will not determine in his favor. Your arrival & success came very opportunily and I did not fail to make use of it I mean outdoors in presence of Cap. Jones & some of his advocated Members, by observing that you had acquit yourself well, which they acknowledged. I then told them they could not do less than make you Admiral also. I had not a sentense of reply. it irritated the Chevalier so much that he was obliged to decamp. I yesterday was informed by a Member of Congress a friend of mine that they had received a letter from Bob Morris (The Financier) that he would undertake to Fitt out immediately my Ship & the 74 and if they agreed to it, there would be a necessity for appointing a Cap. to her immediately, and at the same time asked if I would accept of the Command of her. I refused but at the same time pointed out the necessity of the next Senior officer having the offer & so down, and in case none of them would accept untill it came to Chevalier that then he should have the offer he seemed convinced from the arguments I made use of of the Necessity of this mode as the only one that would give satisfaction and make our Navy of repute. How it will opperate with Congress I cant undertake to determine. I also let him understand that you was already appointed to her. I have very good reason to believe that Bob Morris' views are solely to serve him, but be that as it may, he has my consent, as I am convinced he will never get her to sea. It will suit his Vanity & only tend to expose himself and his friends in Congress.

I have now 120 men onbd., and as Bob Morris has undertaken to supply us with money expect to get to sea in a fortnight.

I now conclude with assuring you I remain Yrs most sincerely

Jas. Nicholson.

To His Excellency. the Presidt. & the Honble. the Members of the United States in Congress Assembled.

The Memorial of Jas. Nicholson, Cap. in the Navy of the United States Respectfully Shewith,

That your Memorialist has by accident been informed that the Chevalier Paul Jones hath Petitioned Congress & in consequence thereof a Committee has been appointed and are now actually siting for the Purpose of considering his claim of Prior Rank to your Memorialist, and as your Memorialist conceives any alteration in the rank of the Navy as at present established will be doing him a very sensible injury he begs leave to call the recollection of Congress to their resolves of the 17th Ap. & the 10th Ocbr. of 76 by the latter of which the rank of every Cap. or Commander in the Navy was established. Your Memorialist therefore prays that Congress will not deprive him of the rank he has always held in the Navy of the United States without a sufficient cause (which he presumes does not exist) as it will convey to the Public at large a suspisian that your Memorialist has forfeited that rank with which he has been so long honored by some misconduct. As your Memorialist has not been informed, certainly, upon what particular grounds Cap. Jones founds his Claims of Prior Rank, your Memorialist can only refer to the above mentioned Solemn Acts of Congress which sets forth the rank that Honble. body fixed for every Cap. & Commdr. in the Navy. Your MemorIt. has good reason to suppose it must be from his Early Service should that be the Case. Your Memorialist begs leave to observe what in his oppinion would be the Absurdity of Cap. Jones' claims viz; That two of your Memorists. Lieutts. now under his immediate Command onbd. the Trumbull would take the Commd. from your Memorits. & will every Capn. Lieutt. that where in the Commodrs. fleet.

If it is thought necessary or proper to call the Congress from their more Important business, your Memorits. has prepared and will furnish a history of his services as a Public Off. prior to the Establishment of rank, but he presumes that it is not necessary and depends upon the Justice & Candor of Congress. Your Memorilst. therefore begs leave to subscribe himself with profond respect & Esteem yr. Excellency, most obedt. Humble. Servt. &ca.

Jas. Nicholson

Editor's Note: Captain John Barry, to whom this letter was written, was then in command of the Alliance, lying in Boston Harbor. He had just returned from an eventful voyage to L'Orient, having taken Colonel John Laurens to France as Special Commissioner of the United States.

APPENDIX C.

Copy of Letter from Jones to Commodore Ezekiel Hopkins.

The Honble. E. Hopkins Esquire
Admiral of the American Fleet
Rhode Island.
P the Brig Sea Nymph
Capt. W. Hopkins.

Providence, at Sea in No Latd 37°. 40'
and W. Longd. 54° Septr. 4th. 1776—

Honoured Sir

I know you will not suspect me of flattery when I affirm that I have not experienced a more sincere pleasure for a long time past than the account I have had of your having gained your cause at Philadelphia in spite of party.—Your late trouble will tend to your future advantage; by pointing out your friends & Enemies you will be thereby enabled to retain the one part while you guard against the other.——You will be thrice welcome to your Native Land and to your nearest concerns—after your late shock they will see you, as Gold from the Fire, of more worth and Value, and Slander will learn to keep silence when Admiral Hopkins is mentioned, but enough of this.

And now for my success—I sent in a Nantucket Whailer by Captn. Grinnele 27th. Ulto.—She appeared by the voluntary testimony of the master mate &ca to be the property of Rank Tories who had ordered their Oil to be Carried to the London Market and the amot. of it to be ship't out in English goods to Nantucket. Since that time I have been further to the Southward when I brought too a number of French Spanish & Danish Ships—but saw no Englishmen 'till the first Currt. when I fell in with five Sail—one of them being very large we took her to be either an Old East Indiaman or a Jamaica three Decker—but she proved to be an English Frigate Mounting twenty six Guns upon one Deck—She sailed fast and pursued us by the wind 'till after four hours Chase, the sea running Very Cross, she got within Musquit Shot of our Lee Quarter—as they had continued firing at us from the first without showing Colours I was angery at this low piece of Conduct therefore ordered ours to be hoisted and began to fire at them—they then hoisted American Colours and fired Guns to leeward—but the bait would not take for having everything prepared I bore away across his forefoot and set all our light sails at once so that before her sails were trimmed and Steering-sails set I was almost out of reach of Grape & soon after out of reach of Cannon Shot.—Our "Hairbreadth Scape" and the saucy manner of making it must have mortified him not a little—had he foreseen this motion and been prepared to counteract it he might have fired several Broadsides while we were within pistol shot—but he was a bad marksman and did not hit the Providence with one of the many shot which he fired.—I met with no other adventure 'till last night when I took the Brigantine Sea Nymph bound from Barbados for London with a Cargo of two hundred and twenty seven Hogsheads of Rum besides Oil Sugar Ginger and Madeira Wine—I understand by this Brig that the A. Doria is off Bermuda and that Captn. Weeks hath given a trimming to an English sloop of war off Martinico.—— I am too late for West Indiamen but will not yet give up hopes—I am much afraid that the Store Ships come out under Convoy for who would have expected to find a Frigate with no more than two Ships a Brig & a Sloop.

If I meet with further success I will write you in Course in the meantime I rest assured that your good offices will not be wanting in my favour when the Navy Rank and Seniority comes to be Settled—if I was worthy of the Rank of Eldest Lieutenant of the Fleet I deserve not to be superseded in favour of any person who then bore an inferior or Juniour Commission.

It will be good policy if the Congress or Marine Committee fix the Parity of Rank between land and sea Officers as it is on the English Establishment Vizt. An Admiral ranks with a General a Vice Adml with a Lieun. Genl. a Rear Adml. with a Major Genl. a Commodore with with a Brigadeer Genl. a Captain with a Colonel a Master & Commander with a Lieut. Colo, a Lieut. Commanding with a Major & a Lieutenant in the Navy with a Captain of Foot or Marines—this would prevent numberless disputes and deuelings which otherwise will be unavoidable—but I remember that this agrees with your own opinion and therefore I need use no argument to enforce it.—my best wishes and respects await yourself and Family and I am with much Esteem and grateful Respect

Honoured Sir

Your very Obliged and most humble Servt.
Jno. P. Jones

Editor's Note: In a letter to Mr. Hewes, dated January 12, 1777, Jones, in speaking of Hopkins, writes of the latter calling himself a Commodore, "this Commodore is altogether unfit to command a Frigate of thirty-two Guns." See Calendar of Jones Manuscripts, Library of Congress, pp. 15-16, 20-22.

APPENDIX D.

Copy of Letter Addressed by Jones to John Wendell, Esqr., Portsmouth, N. H.

Ranger, Nantes 11th Decr. 1777.

My dear Sir,

The Ranger was wafted by the Pinions of the gentlest, and most friendly Gales, along the Surface of the Blue profound of Neptune; and not the swelling bosom of a Friend's nor even of an Enemis Sail, appeared within our placid Horizon, untill after we had passed the Everlasting Mountains of the Sea, (called Azores) whoe's Tops are in the Cloud's, and whoe's Foundations are in the Center. When lo! this Italeyon Season was interrupted! the "gathering Fleets o'erspread the Sea" and Wars alarms began! nor ceased day or night untill, aided by the mighty Boreus, we cast anchor in this Asylum the 2d Currt. but since I am not certain that my Poetry will be understood, it may not be amiss to add, by way of marginal note, that after leaving Portsmouth nothing remarkable happened untill I got to the Eastward of the Western Islands; and that from that time untill my arrival here, I fell in with Ships every day sometimes every Hour; within Eighty Leagues of Ushant, I met with an Enemies fleet of Ten Sail bound up Channel, but notwithstanding my best endeavours, I was unable to detach any of them from the strong Convoy under which they sailed, I met with and brought too a variety of other Ships, none whereof proved British Property, except two Brigantines from Malaga with Fruit for London, which became Prizes, the one is arrived here, the other I am told in Quiberon Bay; as I have met with and brought too several Ships in the Night, I had the most agreeable Proofs of the Active Spirit of my Officers and Men.

I have forwarded my dispatches to Paris, by Express, and determine not to go myself unless I am sent for. I understand that in Obedience to Orders from the Secret Committee the Commissioners had, some time ago, provided One of the finest Frigates for me that can be imagined, calculated for Thirty-two, Twenty four Pounders, on one deck, and longer than any Ship in the Enemies Fleet; but that it has been found necessary to give her up, on account of some difficulties which they have met with at Court. My Heart glows with the most fervent Gratitude for this, and every other unsolicited and unexpected instance of the favo'r and Approbation of Congress; and if a Life of Services devoted to the Interests of America, can be made Instrumental in securing its Independance; I shall be the happiest of Men, and regard the continuance of such Approbation, as an Honor far superiour to the empty Peagantry, which Kings ever had Power to bestow.

I esteem your Son as a promising and deserving young Man, I have just now had some Conversation with him, and am much Pleased with his diffidence and Modesty, he would not he says accept of a Commission untill he thinks himself equal to the duty of the office of Lieutenant; there I think he shows a true Spirit; in the mean time, he tells me that he is perfectly satisfy'd with his present Situation, anything within my Power to render his Situation happy and Instructive, shall not be wanting.

I must rely on you to make my best Compliments receptable to the fair Miss Wendell, and to the other agreeable Ladies of my acquaintance in Portsmouth. The Captain of the Raleigh I understand is well, and has lately been figuring it away at Paris, whereof please to acquaint my Sister Officer. I should be exceedingly happy to hear from you, but as my destination depends on what I am to hear from the Commissioners, I cannot at Present give you my Address, but will drop you another, How do you do, shortly.

I am with Sentiments of Respect & Regard,

My dear Sir,

Your Obliged,
very Obedient,
most humble Servant,
jno. P. Jones

John Wendell, Esqr.
Portsmouth——

Editor's Note: In the Calendar of Jones Manuscripts in the Library of Congress, pp. 31-32, are several letters from John Wendell to Jones dated Oct., 1777. Mr. Wendell was a merchant and Justice of the Peace at Portsmouth, N. H.

APPENDIX E.

Fanning's Account of an Entertainment Given by Jones on the Ariel. Possibly the date is wrong. It may be that recorded in the Ariel's log on "September 2nd. 1780——"

About the tenth of December Great preparations were made on board of our ship in consequence of a great number of people of the first characters in L'Orient. One prince of the blood royal, and three French admirals, with some ladies of the first quality, having had cards of invitation sent them by captain Jones, inviting them on board of his ship the next day to take dinner with him precisely at 3 o'clock in the afternoon; and also informing the company that captain Jones would in the evening of that day, on board of his ship, exhibit to them a sham sea fight; and that it should in part represent his battle with the Serapis, particularly her tops. To go through with a minute detail of all and every circumstance that related to this scene would, I fear, tire the patience of the reader; I shall therefore be as concise as possible in my relation of this exhibition. First then, all the boats belonging to our ship were busily employed with their respective crews from the time the approaching scene was known on board, (which was the day before it was to take place, at ten o'clock in the morning, till about twelve at night on the day on which the company were to dine, in passing to and coming from the shore, bringing off all the articles wanted. And the reader may rest assured that neither cash nor pains were spared in order that the scene every way should appear magnificent. In a short time our quarter-deck had the appearance of a lady of qualitie's drawing-room. Over head was suspended an elegant awning, the edges of which were cut in scollops, and decorated with a variety of silk roses, tassils, &c. from a little below the awning: at the sides were hung thin canvass lined with pink coloured silk, and which fell down so as to reach the quarter-deck. These sides were hung with a great variety of French pictures and looking glasses; some of the first had been drawn by one of the most finished artists in France, and many of which were quite indecent, especially to meet the eyes of a virtuous woman. However, in these days they made a part of French etequette on such an occasion. The quarter-deck of our ship was covered with the most elegant carpets, the plate alone which was made use of on this singular occasion was estimated to be worth two thousand guineas (for my own part I believe it might have been rated at double that sum.) French cooks, and waiters or servants, were brought from the shore to assist in this business and for nearly twenty hours preceding the serving up of dinner, we were almost suffocated with garlick and onions, besides a great many other stinking vegetables. A French lady (who was said to be a great connossieur in the art of cookery, and in hanging and arranging pictures in a room where the first companies went to dine) was gallanted on board by captain Jones the evening before the day on which the company were to dine, and was by him directed to take upon herself the superintendance of the approaching feast. The next day was ushered in by thirteen guns, and the dressing of the ship with the thirteen stripes, and the colours of all nations who were friendly to the United States. Captain Jones and his officers were all dressed in uniform, with their best bib and band on, and we were directed by captain Jones to conduct ourselves with propriety and to pay implicit obedience to my lady superintendant of the ceremonies. At a quarter before 3 o'clock in the afternoon the ship's boats (three in number, each having a midshipman who acted for this time as cockswains; and the men who rowed the boats were all neatly dressed in blew broad cloth, with the American and French cockades in their hats,) were dispatched on shore to bring on board the company. Jones received them as they came up the ship's side and conducted them to their seats on the quarter-deck with a great deal of ease, politeness, and good nature.[30] Dinner was served up at half past 3 P.M. The company did not rise from table till a little after the sun set, when captain Jones ordered his first lieutenant to cause all hands to be called to quarters, which was done just before the moon was rising. I of course, mounted into the main top, which had always been my station as long as I had served under Jones (of which and the men at quarters there, I had the command.) Orders were given before we mounted into the tops that we must be well supplied with ammunition blunderbusses, muskets, cowhorns, hand granadoes, &c. The same as if we were now to engage with an enemy; and when the signal was given (which was to be a cannon fired upon the fore-castle, and as soon as the gun was fired, the sham fight was to commence.) At 8 o'clock it began, and lasted about one hour and a quarter without any intermission. Such a cracking of great guns, swivels, small arms, cowhorns, blunderbusses, &c. such a hissing and poping of hand granadoes, stink pots, powder flasks, was now heard as they fell into the water alongside, as was never the like in the harbour of L'Orient, seen or heard. Some of the ladies were much frightened, and the sham fight would have continued longer had it not been that some of them intreated captain Jones to command the firing to cease. The fight over, a band of music which had been ordered on board by the commandant, and who had been paraded upon the fore part of the quarter-deck, now played their part, and all was glee and harmony. At about twelve at night the company took their leave of captain Jones, and the boats set them safe on shore, in the same order and regularity as they came on board, excepting a few who were landed half seas over; these the midshipmen assisted along to their lodgings, and returned on board to give an account to captain Jones that we saw all the company safe at their respective places of abode. For several days after this nothing of any note was to be heard in conversation among the French at L'Orient, in their coffee houses and private dwellings, but captain Jones's feast and sham fight. Upon the whole, I believe it must have cost himself as well as the United States a vast sum of money. There was certainly a great quantity of powder burnt, and an abundance of wine (besides other liquors) drank. The cost of the whole of this entertainment, including the powder, amounted (by an estimate made by the American agent's first clerk, and who it seems paid the cash for sundry bills relative to this business, to 3,027 crowns at 6s. 8d. each, Massachusetts currency.) Whether captain Jones charged the whole or any part of the expences of this business to the United States I never learned.

APPENDIX F.

The Continuation and End of the Voyage of the Ariel to the United States.

As the Journal of the Ariel ends on the 14th day of October, 1780, a brief account of her voyage to the United States, gathered from the Biographies of Jones, may not be out of place.

Jones continued to prolong his stay at L'Orient more than two months from the time of his putting back dismasted, and again received the remonstrances of Franklin for the expenses incurred in the refitting of the ship.

The arms destined for our army were so much damaged that they were discharged and abandoned. During this period of delay, Jones was much of his time in Paris, and beguiled his time in giving elegant entertainments on his ship, one of which is recorded in the log on the 2d day of September; the one given on or about the 10th of December is described by Fanning, Appendix E. Fanning left the Ariel immediately after this entertainment, and soon after took command of the privateer Eclipse, sailing out of Dunkirk.

The Ariel sailed from L'Orient on the 18th of December, bound for Philadelphia, and had an eventful voyage. Owing to the lumbered condition of his ship, Jones was not particularly anxious to meet the enemies' cruisers. A conspiracy was discovered amongst the English part of the crew, to take the ship, to defeat which the officers and passengers prepared to defend themselves. Jones followed an unfrequented track, taking the southern passage along the edge of the trade winds. When in latitude 26°, near the meridian of Barbados, a large sail was discovered, apparently a cruiser, from which Jones endeavored to escape, but failed. The ships came close alongside, both displaying English colors. A conversation ensued, and the stranger proved to be a British ship named Triumph. A sharp action took place within pistol shot, when the Triumph struck her colors, and cried for quarter, but the Triumph, having got on the weather bow of the Ariel, made all sail and escaped. The Triumph was undoubtedly a privateer, not a King's ship. After this action, twenty of the ringleaders in the plot to get possession of the ship were identified, and put in irons. No further incidents of note occurred, and the Arielreached Philadelphia on the 18th of February, 1781.

APPENDIX G.

Fanning's Account of the Storm which Wrecked the Ariel.

On the 7th of October, 1780, we set sail from this port for the United States in the Ariel, at about 6 P.M. and at the time we had under our convoy fourteen sail of American vessels, among which were three letters of marque, with the wind blowing a leading gale, at E.S.E. At 10 P.M. the wind shifted suddenly into the W.S.W and blew a heavy gale—took in top gallant sails, and close reefed our top sails—soon after took in our topsails and reefed our courses, and we carried them as long as the ship would bear them. The night was very dark, and we lost sight of the fleet. We were obliged to carry some sail in order to weather the Pin Marks, a long range of sunken rocks about a league from the land, and which we judged to be to leeward of us. At midnight we were obliged to hand our courses, as it blew so violent that we could not suffer a single yard of canvass. The ship at the same time lay in a very dangerous situation, nearly upon her beam ends, and in the trough of the sea, and leaked so bad that with both chain pumps constantly going we could not keep her free. Some French soldiers which we had on board, and who were stationed at the cranks of the pumps, let go of them, crossed themselves, and went to prayers. They were driven from this by the officers to the cranks again; and it became necessary to lift hangers over their heads, and threaten them with instant death if they quit their duty, or if they did not work with all their strength; without this they would again leave off and go to prayers. Soon after, one of our chain pumps got choked in such a manner that it would deliver no water. Jones in all this time shewed a great presence of mind, and kept, with his own hands, sounding with the deep sea lead; and finding that we were shoaling water very fast, and that we should in a short time be upon the Pin Marks, without something was soon done to prevent it. In this extremity a consultation of captain Jones and his principal officers was had upon the quarter-deck, and the result was, that orders were given for cutting away our fore-mast and letting go the sheet anchor; and the latter was executed without loss of time. We sounded now in thirty-five fathoms of water. The sheet cable was now paid out to the better end; but she did not look to her anchor; another cable was spliced to the first, and paid out to the better end; she did not yet bring up; the third cable was also spliced to the end of the second; when after paying out about seven eighths of this last, and the fore-mast cut away at the same time, and when it had fell over board to the leeward, the ship brought to and rid head to the wind, and the sea now run mountains high.[31] By the time of which I am now speaking we had not less than three hundred fathoms of cable paid out—in a few minutes after the ship brought to to her anchor. The ship laboured so hard, rolled so deep, and would bring up so sudden that it sprung our main-mast just below our gun-deck, and as this was now in the greatest danger of being ripped up, orders were given to cut away the main-mast above the quarter-deck, which was immediately carried into execution; and when this fell over the side to leeward it forced off the head of the mizzen-mast. By this time, we had freed the ship of water, but when her masts were gone her motion was so quick and violent that the most expert seamen on board could not stand upon their legs, neither upon the quarter-deck nor fore-castle without holding on to something. The chain pump which had been choked was cleared, and notwithstanding the gale kept increasing, yet our anchor and cables held on so well, that some faint hopes were now entertained that our lives would be spared: however, the gale did not abate much until the morning of the 9th. At meridian of this day the wind had abated so much that we began to get up and rig our jury masts. At 4 P.M. we had them erected and rigged, and what spars and sails we could muster upon them; and there being at this time but a moderate breeze at about W.N.W, a fair wind for L'Orient, and the sea tolerable smooth, we hove in our cables till it was short apeak, and then exerted ourselves every way we could think of in order to purchase our anchor, and after trying a long time without being able to weigh it, orders were given by captain Jones to save all we could of the cable and then cut it away, which was done and we made sail for L'Orient, where we soon after arrived and came to anchor. Many of our friends now came on board to see us, and appeared to be rejoiced at our safe escape, as they said, they expected we were lost, as the late gale was very violent and did a great deal of damage even in the harbour, among the shipping and along side of the keys.

APPENDIX H.

Fanning's Account of the Taking Possession of the Alliance by Landais.

Great alterations were now made by the carpenters on board of the Alliance frigate in almost every part of the ship, which put the United States to a vast and unnecessary expence. However, Jones was no so well suited with the command of her that he would have everything done and altered to please his fancy on board of her; not I presume, regarding what it cost, only as a secondary consideration. The Alliance was however ready for sea by the middle of June, 1780, and only waited for a wind to proceed to America.

About this time we heard that captain L——, who had commanded this ship, had arrived in L'Orient, but it seems he went about that place incog. He soon, notwithstanding this, came publicly forward upon the stage and acted the part of a leading character as follows: One day, (I think it was the 23d of June) at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, captain Jones's officers (who were not then on shore) were below at dinner, and captain Jones had gone on shore to dine with the commandant of that place. L—— 's officers at this time were nearly all upon the quarter-deck (being no doubt in the plot) of which the first knowledge we (who were down below) had of it, we heard above three loud huzzas. Such a sudden manoeuver surprised us, and we got upon the quarter-deck as soon as our legs could carry us. Here L—— was walking fore and aft with a paper in his hand, and the yards were manned. He immediately gave orders to Mr. Diggs, formerly first lieutenant to him, to cause all captain Jones's officers to come upon the deck as he had something to say to them. They were all mustered accordingly, and as soon as they made their appearance; he, holding his commission in his hand at the same time, addressed them in nearly the following words: 'Here, you see gentlemen, the commission that the Congress did give me (as he did not speak very good English) for this frigate, and you see I now command her; and that there is no man in France who has a right to take this commission from me: therefore, gentlemen, all you who do not acknowledge me to be captain of this ship you must directly to the shore go, taking with you your baggage and every thing which belongs to you.' Accordingly, there was no other alternative left us but to obey these orders; so that all the officers who had served on board of the Good Man Richard under capt. Jones were forced to leave the Alliance, excepting one or two who chose to remain on board. However, L—— forbid any of the crew quitting her. The Alliance in about three quarters of an hour after this, with the assistance of part of the crews of several men of war then lying in the harbour, unmoored her, made sail, passed the citadel without molestation, and came to anchor under the Isle of Groix, without gun shot of any of the French fortifications. Jones being on shore when this singular manoeuver took place, and not hearing any thing of it till the Alliance was safe at anchor, as I just observed. Never, I am confident, was a man so dreadfully enraged. His passion knew no bounds; and in the first paroxism of his rage he acted more like a mad man than a conqueror. However, as he now saw that he was out-generaled by L—— his sworn enemy, he at length became more calm. The French commandant, at whose table he was sitting when he heard this news, offered him all the assistance in his power, and he appeared to entertain some hopes of getting the Alliance again into his possession. For this purpose he obtained leave of the commandant and French general, to possess himself of a row galley then lying at the key, and which mounted 2 eighteen pounders forward and one abaft, rowed with sixteen oars, and was rigged with latine sails. He was also furnished for this expedition with three hundred (if I am not mistaken) French troops, who were partly embarked on board of the row galley, and the rest on board of boats. Jones flattered himself that this force was able to take the Alliance; and besides, he did not much expect that captain L——, nor his officers and crew, would make any resistance. He required all his old officers who had served under him, to join and lend their assistance in this Don Quixote undertaking; but they all declined having any thing to do with or acting in this affair, excepting one of his lieutenants, who, had the honour of commanding this expedition. He (Jones) very prudently declined embarking, which in my opinion he ought to have done. In that case I have no doubt but all his officers would have resigned their lives with him. Every thing being in readiness, the little squadron moved out of the harbour wearing American and French colours, and proceeded on towards the Isle of Groix, where the Alliance was at anchor. The captain of which,[32] sent a flag with a message to the commander of the expedition the purport of which was, that 'If they came within the reach of his cannon he would sink them.'[33] The little fleet then lay upon their oars a few minutes, after which they turned tail and returned back into port no wiser than when they set out upon this wonderful expedition. Jones, upon seeing them return without taking the Alliance was so enraged that he could hardly contain himself for some time. He swore bitterly—he stamped—he cursed, and grew almost frantic with rage. Three French ships of the line were lying in the harbour at this time, and Jones with the help of the commandant, endeavored to prevail with the French admiral to send out one or two of those ships, (which had their sails bent and were ready for sailing,) in order to force the Alliance to return back to port. But the admiral refused, and told captain Jones that he should not interfere in the quarrel between him and captain L——. Besides, he assured captain Jones that it was more than his commission was worth, taking his head into the bargain, for him to order the departure of either of the ships under his command; more especially on such a piece of service as that was, which captain Jones wished her to be sent upon. The fact was, this same French admiral was at this very time as deep in the mud as L—— was in the mire; and so was the commander of the citadel, commonly called Fort Lewis, or Louis. L—— had been to this last place sundry times, as well as on board of the French admiral, where the plot or conspiracy was first agitated, of taking the Alliance out of Jones's hands, and where it was brought to maturity, and succeeded as I have related.