Chapter I: Preface

I commenced writing the Life of Paul Jones with the impression, received from early reading, that he was a reckless adventurer, incapable of fear, and whose chief merit consisted in performing deeds of desperate daring. But I rise from the careful examination of what he has written, said, and done, with the conviction that I had misjudged his character. I now regard him as one of the purest and most enlightened of patriots, and one of the noblest of men. His name should be enrolled upon the same scroll with those of his intimate friends, Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Lafayette.

As this exhibition of the character of Admiral Jones is somewhat different from that which has been presented in current literature, I have felt the necessity of sustaining the narrative by the most unquestionable documentary evidence. Should any one, in glancing over the pages, see that the admiral is presented in a different light from that in which he has been accustomed to view him, I must beg him, before he condemns the narrative, to examine the proof which I think establishes every statement.

The admiral had his faults. Who has not? But on the whole he was one of nature’s noblemen. His energies were sincerely and intensely devoted to the good of humanity. He was ambitious. But it was a noble ambition, to make his life sublime. He was a man of pure lips and of unblemished life. His chosen friends were the purest, the most exalted, the best of men. He had no low vices. Gambling, drinking, carousing, were abhorrent to his nature. He was a student of science and literature; and in the most accomplished female society he found his social joy. While forming the comprehensive views of statesmenship and of strategy, and evincing bravery unsurpassed by any knight of romance, he was in manners, thought, and utterance, as unaffected as a child.

JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.

CONTENTS.

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CHAPTER I.
PAGE
_The Early Life of John Paul Jones._

His Birth and Childhood.—Residence and Employments in
Scotland.—His Studious Habits.—First Voyage to
America.—Engaged in the Slave Trade.—Reasons for
Abandoning it.—False Charges against him.—His
Sensitiveness to Obloquy.—Espouses the Cause of the
Colonies.—Developments of Character.—Extracts from his
Letters. 9

CHAPTER II.
_The Infant Navy._

Rescuing the Brigantine.—Commissioned as Captain.—Escape
from the Solway.—Conflict with the Milford.—Adventures at
Canso and Madame.—Return with Prizes.—Expedition to Cape
Breton.—Wise Counsel of Jones.—Brilliant Naval
Campaign.—Saving the Prizes.—Value of the Mellish.—Mission
to France.—Disappointment.—Sails with the Ranger. 32

CHAPTER III.
_Bearding the British Lion._

Aid from France.—Plan for the Destruction of the British
Fleet.—The American Flag Saluted.—Bold Movement of Captain
Jones.—Cruise along the Shores of England.—Capture of
Prizes.—Salutary Lessons given to England.—Operations in
the Frith of Clyde.—At Carrickfergus.—Attempt upon the
Drake.—Burning the Shipping at Whitehaven.—Capture of the
Plate of Lord Selkirk. 56

CHAPTER IV.
_Captain Jones at Nantes and at Brest._

Correspondence with Lord Selkirk.—Terrible Battle with the
ship Drake.—Capture of the ship.—Carnage on board the
Drake.—Generosity to Captured Fishermen.—Insubordination
of Lieutenant Simpson.—Embarrassments of Captain
Jones.—Hopes and Disappointments.—Proofs of Unselfish
Patriotism.—Letter to the King of France.—Anecdote of Poor
Richard. 78

CHAPTER V.
_Cruise of the Bon Homme Richard._

Plans of Lafayette.—Correspondence.—Humane Instructions of
Franklin.—Proposed Invasion of England.—Sailing of the
Squadron.—Conduct of Pierre Landais.—The
Collision.—Adventures of the Cruise.—Insane Actions of
Landais.—Plan for Capture.—Plan for the Capture of Leith
and Edinburgh. 100

CHAPTER VI.
_The Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis._

Leith Threatened.—The Summons.—Remarkable
Prayer.—Wide-spread Alarm.—Continuation of the
Cruise.—Insubordination of Landais.—Successive
Captures.—Terrible Battle between the Bon Homme Richard
and the Serapis.—The Great Victory. 123

CHAPTER VII.
_Result of the Victory._

Dreadful Spectacle.—Sinking of the Bon Homme Richard.—Escape
of the Baltic Fleet.—Sails for the Texel.—Interesting
Correspondence.—Sufferings of the American
Prisoners.—Barbarity of the English Government.—Humanity
of Captain Jones.—The Transference from the Serapis to the
Alliance.—Extracts from the British Press.—Release of
Prisoners. 148

CHAPTER VIII.
_Commodore Jones at Court._

Offer of a Privateersman.—Indignant Reply.—The Renown of
Commodore Jones.—Successful Retreat.—Cruise through the
Channel.—Poetic Effusion.—Enters Corunna.—Letter to
Lafayette.—Embarrassed Finances of Franklin.—Intrigues of
Landais.—His Efforts to Excite Mutiny.—Testimony against
him.—Commodore Jones at Court. 172

CHAPTER IX.
_The Mutiny of Landais._

The Visit of Jones to Versailles.—Intrigues of Landais.—The
Alliance Wrested from Jones.—Complicity of Arthur
Lee.—Magnanimity of Jones.—Strong Support of Dr.
Johnson.—Honors Conferred upon Jones.—Strange Career of
Landais.—His Life in America, and Death.—Continued Labors
and Embarrassments of Jones.—His Correspondence. 193

CHAPTER X.
_The Return to America._

Fitting the Ariel.—Painful Delays.—The Sailing.—Terrible
Tempest.—The Disabled Ship.—Puts back to L’Orient.—The
Second Departure.—Meets the Triumph.—Bloody Naval
Battle.—Perfidious Escape of the Triumph.—The Ariel
Reaches America.—Honors Lavished upon Jones.—Appointed to
Build and Command the America.—Great Skill Displayed.—The
Ship given to France.—The Launch. 214

CHAPTER XI.
_The War Ended._

Promise of the South Carolina.—A New Disappointment.—The
Great Expedition Planned.—Magnitude of the Squadron.—The
Appointed Rendezvous.—Commodore Jones Joins the
Expedition.—His Cordial Reception.—Great Difficulties and
Embarrassments.—The Rendezvous at Port Cabella.—Tidings of
Peace.—Return to America.—New Mission to France. 236

CHAPTER XII.
_The Difficulties of Diplomacy._

Courteous Reception in Paris.—Compliment of the
King.—Principles of Prize Division.—Embarrassing
Questions.—Interesting Correspondence.—The Final
Settlement.—Modest Claims of Commodore Jones.—Plan for a
Commercial Speculation.—Its Failure.—The Mission to
Denmark.—Return to America. 258

CHAPTER XIII.
_The Mission to Denmark._

Letter to Mr. Jefferson.—The Marquise de Marsan.—Unfounded
Charges and Vindication.—Flattering Application from
Catherine II.—His Reception at the Polish Court.—Jones
receives the Title of Rear-Admiral.—English
Insolence.—Letter of Catherine II. 280

CHAPTER XIV.
_The Russian Campaign._

Admiral Jones repairs to the Black Sea.—Designs of Catherine
II.—Imposing Cavalcade.—Turkey Declares War against
Russia.—Daring Conduct of Admiral Jones.—A Greek Officer
Alexiano.—The Prince of Nassau Siegen.—Annoyances of
Admiral Jones from Russian Officers.—Battle in the Black
Sea.—Jones yields the Honor to the Prince of Nassau. 298

CHAPTER XV.
_Adventures in the Black Sea._

The First Battle.—Folly of the Prince of
Nassau.—Inefficiency of the Gun-boats.—Burning of the
Greek Captives.—Humanity of Jones.—Alienation between the
Admiral and the Prince of Nassau.—The Second
Conflict.—Annoyances of the Admiral.—Hostility of the
English.—Necessary Employment of Foreign Seamen.—Disgrace
of Nassau.—Transference of the Admiral to the Baltic. 316

CHAPTER XVI.
_Retirement and Death._

The Return to Cherson.—Sickness and Sadness.—Oczakow
Stormed.—The Wintry Journey to St. Petersburg.—Mental
Activity.—Calumniated by the English.—The Admiral’s
Defence.—Slanderous Accusation.—His Entire
Acquittal.—Testimony of Count Segur.—Letter to the
Empress.—Obtains Leave of Absence.—Returns to France.—Life
in Paris.—Sickness and Death. 337

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PAUL JONES.

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