OFFICERS OF THE "ALLIANCE" REFUSE TO SERVE--PEACE.
Though in October Captain Barry hoped in a few days to proceed on a
cruise it was not until December 8, 1782, that he was ready to sail,
which he did the next day. Lieutenants Patrick Fletcher and Nicholas
Gardner, John Buckley, Master; James Geagan, Surgeon, and Samuel Cooper,
Purser, demanded two-thirds of their wages, "though they had received as
much prize-money as they knew what to do with." Captain Barry informed
them that he had no authority to pay them and had no money if he had.
They refused to go on board the "Alliance" and do their duty.
Accordingly, Captain Barry placed them under arrest until tried by
Court-Martial in the United States. He was obliged to appoint others,
"not adequate to the duty of the stations, 'but necessity knows no
law,'" he wrote Thomas Barclay, Consul-General of the United States and
Commissioner of the Navy in France, who justified Barry's course and
concurred in the appointments he made.
All this time there were rumors of peace. On November 30, 1782,
preliminary articles of peace had been signed. On December 5th King
George III announced that he had given the "necessary orders to prohibit
the further prosecution of offensive war upon the Continent of North
America."
Though Captain Barry, early in December, 1782, had "great reason to
think peace was concluded," he decided to make another cruise by
"running down the coast of Guinea" and returning to America by way of
Martinico, believing "should peace be made there will be a certain time
given for vessels to make prizes in certain latitudes."
The "Alliance" sailed from L'Orient on December 9th, but though chasing
several vessels, no encounter came about. On December 16th arrived at
Porto Sancto--the next day the island of Madeira. Sailed hence and on
January 8, 1783, arrived off Martinico. At St. Pierre Harbor Barry found
orders for him to proceed to Havana to take in specie for Congress.
On January 12th sailed for Havana and after stopping at St. Eustatia and
Cape Francois arrived there January 17th. While off Hispaniola Barry met
an English fleet of seventeen sail, but he "got clear of them." The
next day met two British cruisers, one of 74 guns. They chased the
"Alliance" under the guns of Cape Francois.
On February 13th Captain Barry notified the Governor of Havana that the
"Alliance" and "Duc de Lauzun," frigates belonging to Congress, were
ready to sail from that port. He requested permission for the frigates
to depart as he had "despatches from the Court of France which are very
important," and also desired that the American merchant vessels at the
port should be permitted to depart under convoy of the "Alliance." The
Governor replied that, complying with secret instructions from the King,
it was entirely out of his power to grant the permission sought. To
which Barry replied that it was somewhat singular for ships of war
employed on national objects to be restricted in the same manner as
merchant vessels. He then again asked "in the name of my Sovereign for
permission for the sailing of the two American ships of war." He
withdrew his request for the trading vessels as they were "fully under
the influence of the embargo." The Governor replied that he and the
Admiral of the Squadron had consulted and decided that permission could
not be given then. He advised Captain Barry "to reflect on the immense
prejudice that might occur to the common cause of the allied powers and
commerce of Spain if any unlucky accident should happen by the enemy
taking one of the frigates."
On February 22d, Washington's birthday, Captain Barry issued orders "to
exercise the great guns and the small arms every day, to loose the
topsails in order the men could learn to do it well, to have wood and
water ready for sea." He evidently was having the ship ready for service
and action though he had brought the news of peace to the West India
Islands.