The Continuation and End of the Voyage of the _Ariel_ to the United
States.
As the Journal of the _Ariel_ ends on the 14th day of October, 1780,
a brief account of her voyage to the United States, gathered from the
Biographies of Jones, may not be out of place.
Jones continued to prolong his stay at L'Orient more than two months
from the time of his putting back dismasted, and again received the
remonstrances of Franklin for the expenses incurred in the refitting
of the ship.
The arms destined for our army were so much damaged that they were
discharged and abandoned. During this period of delay, Jones was
much of his time in Paris, and beguiled his time in giving elegant
entertainments on his ship, one of which is recorded in the log
on the 2d day of September; the one given on or about the 10th of
December is described by Fanning, Appendix E. Fanning left the
_Ariel_ immediately after this entertainment, and soon after took
command of the privateer _Eclipse_, sailing out of Dunkirk.
The _Ariel_ sailed from L'Orient on the 18th of December, bound for
Philadelphia, and had an eventful voyage. Owing to the lumbered
condition of his ship, Jones was not particularly anxious to meet the
enemies' cruisers. A conspiracy was discovered amongst the English
part of the crew, to take the ship, to defeat which the officers
and passengers prepared to defend themselves. Jones followed an
unfrequented track, taking the southern passage along the edge of the
trade winds. When in latitude 26°, near the meridian of Barbados, a
large sail was discovered, apparently a cruiser, from which Jones
endeavored to escape, but failed. The ships came close alongside,
both displaying English colors. A conversation ensued, and the
stranger proved to be a British ship named _Triumph_. A sharp action
took place within pistol shot, when the _Triumph_ struck her colors,
and cried for quarter, but the _Triumph_, having got on the weather
bow of the _Ariel_, made all sail and escaped. The _Triumph_ was
undoubtedly a privateer, not a King's ship. After this action, twenty
of the ringleaders in the plot to get possession of the ship were
identified, and put in irons. No further incidents of note occurred,
and the _Ariel_reached Philadelphia on the 18th of February, 1781.