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 École Militaire, where they were again most courteously received and provided with dinner. The officers 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, RearAdmiral 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 American 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 officials. Ladies, as well as gentlemen, were present. After the luncheon, we took final leave of President Loubet and the members of his ministry, 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 mention, 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.

The party of American officers arrived back at Cherbourg at 6 a. m. on the morning of the 8th. At 1 o'clock on the 8th I sent a landing party ashore, under arms, where there were also assembled French soldiers 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 Besson 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 Zouave proceeded slowly to the Brooklyn. It was a very beautiful and impressive 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 halfWhen the Zouave left the quay, the flagship of Rear-Admiral Leygue began a salute of 15 minute guns. That number of guns was fired at my instance, because Mr. Loomis in his address had named John Paul Jones as vice-admiral. The French salute at Paris had corresponded with that rank. When the French flagship Bouvines had finished her salute, and after a short interval, the Brooklyn 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,

mast.

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, military, 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 navy, through a committee, entertained 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 decorated 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 officer 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 génie. On the 7th the wardroom officers of the Bouvines entertained the wardroom officers of the Brooklyn.

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

By the courtesy of M. Le 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 Collard, of Vice-Admiral Besson's staff, gave much time and attention to perfecting times and arrangements on shore, while Admiral Leygue 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

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. 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 Loubet 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 completeness 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 history, namely, the French-American exploits of John Paul Jones. It is gratifying to me personally, as commander in chief of the naval expedition, that all events 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 11 knots was set. Later, in heavy seas, the speed was reduced to 10 knots. It was afterwards restored to 11 knots in order to take every advantage of smooth weather.

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. However, 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 interference 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. Late 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 11 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

Brooklyn; flag of Rear-Admiral Sigsbee.

Galveston.

Tacoma.

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