the master of which, from his knowledge of the coast, and subserviency to his captor, was of the greatest use to Jones in his intended project.— When he afterwards abandoned the enterprise, he this man up gave his vessel, 66 on account of his attachment to America, and the faithful information and important services he rendered me," says Jones, "by his general knowledge of the east coast of Britain. I had given orders to sink the old vessel, when the tears of this honest* man prevailed over my intention."

very

bad patriot, was An

* This "honest man," but drew Robertson, master of the Friendship of Kirkcaldy. After being for two days kept on board the Bon Homme Richard, and having his ship given up to him for "faithful information" and "important services," he pretended that Commodore Jones had put it to ransom. This indeed was the face necessary to put on the affair; but the Commodore had previously declared that he had no authority to ransom prizes. The ransom-passport is amusing, from its date, and the circumstances under which it was granted. It is written by a French marine officer, who probably acted as the secretary of Commodore Jones, but is signed by himself:

The narrative of this bold though abortive attempt will be best given in Jones's own words:

"We continued working to windward of the frith, without being able to reach the road of Leith till, on the morning of the 17th, when, being almost within cannon-shot of the town, having every thing in readiness for a descent, a

"L'Honorable Capitaine John Paul Jones, Ecuyer, commandant en chef l'escadre Americaine actuellement en Europe,

"A tous ceux qui ces presentes verront, spécialement les sujets de la France :—

"Je certifie par le présent passeport, que le vaisseau Friendship, commandé par André Robertson, du port de Kirkcaldy, et venant du dit lieu pour aller à Riga, a été pris par l'escadre Americaine que je commande, et qu'il est ransonné: C'est pourquoi je prie et requiers tous les sujets de la France et de l'Amérique, de laisser librement passer le dit vaisseau Friendship, et continuer son voyage, sans le troubler en façon quelconque.

"Donné à la mer à bord du Bon Homme

Richard, le dix-sept Septembre, mil sept

cent soixante dix-neuf.

"J. PAUL JONES."

very severe gale of wind came on, and, being directly contrary, obliged us to bear away, after having in vain endeavoured for some time to withstand its violence. The gale was so severe, that one of the prizes that were taken on the 14th sunk to the bottom, the crew being with difficulty saved. As the clamour had by this time reached Leith by means of a cutter that had watched our motions that morning, and as the wind continued contrary, (though more moderate in the evening,) I thought it impossible to pursue the enterprise with a good prospect of success, especially as Edinburgh, where there is always a number of troops, is only a mile distant from Leith therefore I gave up the project."*

* The prodigious sensation caused by the appearance of the squadron of Paul Jones in the Frith of Forth is hardly yet forgotten on the coast of Fife. There are various accounts of the manner in which this daring attempt was defeated. The 17th September, when Jones advanced to Leith, happened to be a Sunday. His ship, the Bon Homme Richard, stood at times so near the northern shores as to be distinctly seen by the crowds assembled on the beach, and on the commanding heights in the

It was the misfortune of Paul Jones, in almost every important crisis of his life, to be either

neighbourhood. At one time the Bon Homme Richard was not more than a mile from Kirkcaldy, a thriving and wealthy seaport. The alarm was naturally very great in that town; and the Rev. Mr Shirra, a worthy and very eccentric dissenting clergyman, remarkable for his quaint humour, instead of holding forth in the church as at ordinary times, where on this day he would have had but a thin audience, repaired to the fine level sandy beach of Kirkcaldy, and soon attracted a very numerous congregation. Here he prayed most fervently and earnestly, with that homely and familiar eloquence by which his sermons and prayers were distinguished, that the enterprise of "the piratical invader Paul Jones might be defeated." For once, it may be believed, the hearts of a congregation went with their minister. That violent gale, so much lamented by Paul Jones, suddenly arose,-the alleged consequence of Mr Shirra's powerful intercession. Such was long the popular belief. When, in after periods, this good old man was questioned on the subject, and complimented on the prevailing spirit of his prayer, which had so opportunely raised the wind that blew off Paul Jones, his usual reply, disclaiming the full extent of the compliment, was," I prayed,-but the LORD sent the wind."

clogged by the timid counsels of those about him, whose genius and courage could not keep pace with his, or to be thwarted by the baser feelings of ignoble rivalship. In no other service than that of America, still struggling for a doubtful existence as an independent state, and without either power or means to enforce due obedience throughout the gradations of the public service, could such insubordination as was displayed by

A gentleman, writing shortly afterwards from Amsterdam to his friend in Leith, says,-" You may count it a very fortunate circumstance that this gentleman (Commodore Jones) was prevented from hurting you when he was in your frith by a strong westerly wind, and the springing of a mast, as, in a conversation I had with him in this city, he assured me that his intention was to seize the shipping in the harbour, and to set fire to such as he could not carry off. He seemed to be well acquainted with the coast, and knew" (thanks to honest' Andrew Robertson!) "that there was no force to oppose him." Jones is described at this time, by those who saw him, as being "dressed in the American uniform, with a Scotch bonnet, edged with gold,-as of a middling stature, stern countenance, and swarthy complexion."