A short time after this, the American squadron tried to capture a
British ship called the _Glasgow_, but the attempt was not successful.
Because of this failure, one of the captains was dismissed from the
navy, and the command of his vessel was given to Lieutenant Jones. This
vessel was named the _Providence_.
With it and the _Alfred_, which he also commanded, Captain Jones
captured sixteen prizes in six weeks. Among them were cargoes of coal
and dry goods.
Best of all, he captured an English vessel bound for Canada, full of
warm clothing for the British soldiers. This was a prize that proved of
great value to General Washington's poorly clothed army.
In those days there were selfish people just as now. In January, 1777, a
jealous commodore succeeded in depriving Paul Jones of his position as
captain. He was now without ship or rank. When he appealed to Congress
he was put off with promises from time to time. It was not until May
that his petitions were heard.
There were three new ships being built for the navy at Boston. Congress
gave him permission to choose one of these and have it fitted out as he
wished.
While waiting in Boston for these ships to be finished, Paul Jones wrote
many wise suggestions about the management of the navy. Congress at
first paid but little attention to these suggestions, but was afterwards
glad to act upon them.
These were some of the things he said:
"1. Every officer should be examined before he receives his commission.
"2. The ranks in a navy should correspond to those in an army.
"3. As England has the best navy in the world, we should copy hers."
[Illustration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.]
Before the ship he had chosen was completed, he was ordered to wait no
longer in Boston, but to take the _Ranger_, an old vessel, and sail at
once for France. Through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin, the American
Minister to France, the French king had acknowledged the independence of
the colonies, and was ready to aid the Americans in the war.
Paul Jones was to carry a letter from Congress to the American
commissioners in Paris.
This letter told the commissioners to buy a new fast-sailing frigate for
Captain Jones, and to have it fitted up as he desired. They were then to
advise him as to what he should do with it.