sued to attain those objects. Many of his ideas were valuable, and some of them have, in substance, been carried into effect by the present government upon a large scale. Writing to his friend, the Honorable Robert Morris, on the 10th of February 1777, he said— "There are no officers more immediately wanted in the marine department, than commissioners of dock yards, to superintend the building, and outfit of all ships of war; with power to appoint deputies to provide and have in constant readiness, sufficient quantities of provision, stores, slops, &c., so that the small number of ships we have, may be constantly employed, and not continue idle as they do at present: besides all the advantages that would arise from such appointments, the saving which would accrue to the continent is worth attending to; had such men been appointed at the first, the new ships might have been at sea long ago. The difficulty now lays in finding men who are deserving, and who are fitly qualified for an office of such importance." "I must repeat what I asserted formerly, that unless some happy expedient can be fallen upon to induce the seamen to enter into the service for a longer term than twelve months, it will never be possible to bring them under proand subordination is as necessary, nay, per subordination; far more so in the fleet, than in the army. Present advantages, though small, will operate far more on the minds of seamen, than future prospects, though great. They ought at least to enter during the war, if hot during pleasure." In fulfilment of the resolution of Congress of the 17th of March 1777, the Marine Committee addressed a letter to Capt. Jones in the following terms : IN MARINE COMMITTEE. Philadelphia, March 25th, 1777. The Congress, by a resolve of the 17th Inst., having ordered that the agent at Boston should purchase, arm, and fit out, for the service of the United States, three fast sailing good ships, that will conveniently mount 18 six-pounders on one deck; and that Capt. John Paul Jones shall command one of said ships, until better provision can be made for him: Therefore. Resolved, That Capt. Jones shall have his choice of those three ships, and that he superintend the fitting of her out. Extract from the minutes. JOHN BROWN, Secretary. IN MARINE COMMITTEE. SIR, Philadelphia, March 25th, 1777. The agent, Mr. Bradford, has orders from this Committee to purchase and fit out, three armed vessels, pursuant to a resolve of Congress, which is transmitted to him, one of which you are to command, and the Committee have directed that you should have your choice. Therefore you are desired to make your election as soon as the purchase shall be made, and to superintend and hasten the fitting her out for sea, with all possible expedition. We are, Sir, Before this plan was carried into execution, Jones received a new and honorable proof of the good opinion of Congress, by being ordered to proceed to France from Portsmouth in the French ship Amphitrite, with a positive order to the American commissioners at Paris to invest him with the command of a fine ship, as a reward for the zeal he had shown, and for the signal services which he had performed in vessels of little force. By the annexed letter to Mr. John Dobie it would seem that he was making preparations to embark in the Amphitrite; but, on account of difficulties made by her commander, he abandoned the design: MR. JOHN DOBIE, Boston, May 23d, 1777. You are hereby authorized to engage any prime seamen who may present themselves to serve under my command in the navy on board the ship Amphitrite, at Portsmouth in New-Hampshire, bound to France.-On arrival there they are to be turned over to one of the finest frigates of the French navy, she having been purchased for the United States by their commissioners at the court of Paris and to be put under my command. You are directed to repair on board the ship at Portsmouth without loss of time, and your reasonable expenses will be allowed, as also the reasonable expenses of as many prime seamen as you may bring with you in proper time. If a passage can be procured from hence to Portsmouth by water it will be the cheapest and best conveyance, especially for baggage. JOHN P. JONES. Capt. Jones had before, in one of his letters to a member of Congress, recommended that one of his prizes, the Mellish, should be converted into a ship of war. This had been de termined upon by the Marine Committee, but, upon the receipt of a letter from him in May 1777, the determination was abandoned, and he was appointed to the command of the Ranger. That committee wrote the following letter to him, from which it may be inferred that he was growing in the esteem of Congress and in favour with the public in general: IN MARINE COMMITTEE, JOHN PAUL JONES, ESQ. SIR, Philadelphia, June 18th, 1777. Your letter of the 26th May to the secret committee was laid before Congress, and in consequence thereof, the design of fitting the Mellish is laid aside; and you are appointed to command the Ranger ship of war lately built at Portsmouth. Col. Whipple the bearer of this carries with him the resolves of Congress appointing you to this command, and authorizing him, Col. Langdon, and you, to appoint the other commissioned as well as the warrant officers necessary for this ship, and he has with him blank commissions and warrants for this purpose. It is our desire that you get the Ranger equipped, officered, and manned as well and as soon as possible, and probably we may send you other instructions, before you are ready to sail. However the design of the present is to prevent your waiting for such after you are ready for service in every other respect, and if that happens before the receipt of farther orders from us, you must then proceed on a cruize against the enemies of those United States, conforming to the orders and regulations of Congress made for the government of the navy; and in conformity thereto, take, sink, burn, or destroy all such of the enemies ships, vessels, goods, and effects as you may be able. We shall not limit you to any particular cruizing station, but leave you at large to search for yourself where the greatest chance of success presents. Your prizes you will send into such safe ports in these United States as they can reach, your prisoners must also be sent in, and we recommend them to kind treatment. Any useful intelligence that comes to your knowledge must be communicated to us whenever you have opportunity. You are to preserve good order and discipline, but use your people well. The ship, her materials, and stores must be taken good care of, and every officer to answer to any embezzlements that happen in his department. You are to make monthly returns of your officers, men, &c. to the Navy Board, you are to be exceedingly attentive to the cleanliness of your ship and preservation of the peoples healths. You are to afford assistance and protection to the American commerce whenever in your power; and on your return from this cruize, lay copies of your journal and log-book before the Navy Board, and inform us the events of your voyage. We are, Sir, Your friends and servants, JOHN HANCOск, The resolutions referred to are as follow: The designation of the flag and the appointment of Captain Jones to the command of the Ranger on the same day, would seem to imply some connexion between the two circumstances. The Ranger was probably the first ship that bore the national flag to Europe. IN CONGRESS, June 14th, 1777. Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States, be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation. Resolved, That Captain John Paul Jones be appointed to command the ship Ranger. Resolved, That William Whipple, Esq. member of Congress, and of the Marine Committee, John Langdon Esq. continental agent, and the said John Paul Jones, be authorised to appoint lieutenants and other commissioned, and warrant officers, necessary for the said ship; and that blank commissions and warrants be sent them, to be filled up with the names of the persons they appoint, returns whereof to be made to the Navy Board in the eastern department. The subjoined letter to Lieutenant Elijah Hall shows that Captain Jones dealt frankly and honorably with his seamen. This was as wise as it was just, for the surest method of securing cheerful obedience, and preserving harmony among a ship's crew, is to inspire them at the out-set with confidence in the integrity and equity of the commander: Portsmouth N. H. July 29th, 1777, Lieut. ELIJAH HALL, U. S. Navy. SIR, As I learn from you that the seamen who have entered for the Ranger, for one cruize, expect to receive an advance of forty dollars, and that the landsmen expect to receive an advance of twenty dollars, as mentioned in the hand bills, and as I would by no means deceive any man who has entered, or who may enter, to serve under my command, it is proper that you should inform them, that at the time when Congress agreed to that advance, there was no intention of entering men except for three years, during the war, or for one year at least; yet, as I consider myself under an obligation to those men, who have so cheerfully entered, it being a proof of their good opinion of me, I would at my own risk, give them orders on the agent here, for the above advance or for such part of it, as they may find really necessary, but upon inquiry, I am convinced that this would be contrary to the rules of Congress, and therefore hurtful to the service. I will, however, besides the bounty, give an order on the agent, or paymaster of the navy, for the punctual pay |