One day, when Paul Jones was reading "Poor Richard's Almanac," written
by Dr. Franklin, he found a paragraph which set him to thinking. It was:
"_If you would have your business done, go; if not_, SEND."
He sent no more letters, but went at once to the French court and
pleaded his case there in person. As a result, he was soon after made
commander of a vessel which he named the _Bon Homme Richard_, which
means _Poor Richard_. He did this out of gratitude to Dr. Franklin.
The _Bon Homme Richard_ was an old trading vessel, poorly fitted out for
war. But after his long months of waiting, Paul Jones was thankful even
for this.
He was also given command of four smaller vessels. One of these, the
_Alliance_, had, for captain, a Frenchman named Pierre Landais, who was
afterwards the cause of much trouble. Paul Jones was ordered to cruise
with his small squadron along the west coast of Ireland and to capture
all the English merchant vessels he could find.
[Illustration: RICHARD DALE.]
The officer next in command to Paul Jones was Lieutenant Richard Dale,
who has since been remembered not only for his bravery during that
famous cruise, but for his service to the country at a later period.
On the 14th of August, 1779, the ships put to sea. When they reached the
southern point of Ireland, one of the four small vessels was left
behind and deserted.
Cruising northward, the squadron soon captured two valuable prizes.
Without asking the permission of Paul Jones, Captain Landais sent these
captured vessels to Norway.
On the way, they were taken by the Danes, who returned them to England.
The value of these prizes, thus lost through Captain Landais, was about
L40,000, or nearly $200,000.
The squadron sailed round the north of Scotland, and down the eastern
coast until it came to the Firth of Forth. Here was the town of Leith,
and in its harbor lay some English war vessels.
Paul Jones wished to capture these. The winds were favorable, and a
landing could easily have been made but for Captain Landais.
Paul Jones spent a whole night persuading this troublesome captain to
help him. It was only with a promise of money that he at last succeeded.
But in the morning the winds were contrary.
That day the _Richard_ captured an English merchant ship. The captain
promised Paul Jones that if he would allow his vessel to go free, he
would pilot the squadron into the harbor.
The people, seeing the fleet piloted by the English vessel, supposed the
visit to be a friendly one. So they sent a boat out to the _Richard_,
asking for powder and shot to defend the town from the visit of "Paul
Jones the pirate."
Jones sent back a barrel of powder with the message that he had no
suitable shot. It was not until the vessels were nearing the harbor that
the object of the visit was suspected. The people, in their fright, ran
to the house of the minister. He had helped them when in trouble at
other times, and could surely do something now.
The good man, with his flock following him, ran to the beach, where he
made a strange prayer.
He told the Lord that the people there were very poor, and that the wind
was bringing to the shore that "vile pirate," Paul Jones, who would burn
their houses and take away even their clothes. "I canna think of it! I
canna think of it! I have long been a faithful servant to ye, O Lord.
But gin ye dinna turn the wind aboot and blaw the scoundrel out of our
gates, I'll nae stir a foot, but will just sit here till the tide comes
in."
Just then a violent gale sprang up, and by the time it had abated the
squadron had been driven so far out to sea that the plan was given up.
Long afterward, the good minister would often say, "I prayed, but the
Lord sent the wind."