_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.
It was indeed running the gauntlet, for Commodore Jones, with a frigate
of but thirty-four guns, and in poor sailing trim, to escape from the
Texel, and run down the German Ocean, through the English Channel and
the Straits of Dover, to some French port, when the whole available
force of the British navy was on the lookout for him, with twelve
men-of-war cruising before the mouth of the harbor. It would seem that,
under those circumstances, escape were impossible.
Just before sailing, the French minister, M. de la Sartine, offered
Commodore Jones, through the Duke de Vauguyon, a commission as captain
of a privateersman, which several gentleman of wealth had fitted out, in
the best possible manner, to enrich themselves by preying upon British
commerce. This assumption that Commodore Jones was a mere adventurer,
guided by the love of money, he regarded as an insult. In indignant
terms he rejected the offer. Under date of December 13th, he wrote to
the duke, as follows:
“MY LORD: Perhaps there are many men in the world, who would esteem as
an honor the commission that I have this day refused. My rank, from the
beginning, knew no superior in the marine of America. How then must I be
humbled were I to receive a letter of marque. It is a matter of the
highest astonishment to me that, after so many compliments and fair
professions, the court should offer the present insult to my
understanding, and suppose me capable of disgracing my present
commission. I confess that I never merited all the praise bestowed on my
past conduct; but I also feel that I have far less merited such a
reward.”
The letter containing these sentiments he enclosed in one to Dr.
Franklin, that it might be presented by him to the duke, if it met his
approval. In his letter he still more forcibly gave expression to his
wounded feelings. The heroic man added:
“We hear that the enemy still keeps a squadron cruising off here. But
this shall not prevent my attempts to depart, whenever the wind will
permit. I hope we have recovered the trim of this ship, which was
entirely lost during the last cruise; and I do not much fear the enemy
in the long and dark nights of this season. The ship is well-manned, and
shall not be given away. I need not tell you, that I will do my utmost
to take prisoners and prizes, in my way from hence.”
The great victory Commodore Jones had achieved gave him singular renown.
The ladies, especially, were charmed by his chivalry. He received
constant attentions from the most eminent in rank. The palace and the
castle opened their doors to welcome him. He had the most urgent
invitations to visit Amsterdam and to enjoy the hospitalities of the
court. But all these flattering attentions he avoided as much as
possible. One great passion absorbed his soul. All his energies were
consecrated to the sublime mission of emancipating the United States,
and ennobling their flag.
“Duty,” he said, “must take the precedence of pleasure. I must wait a
more favorable opportunity to kiss the hands of the fair.”
The Alliance had a picked crew of four hundred and twenty-seven men.
Nearly all these were Americans. Many of them had been liberated from
British prisons by the energies of Commodore Jones. He impressed upon
both officers and crew his determination that he should never shrink
from an engagement with any English ship which did not mount more than
fifty guns.
The night of the 26th of December was dark, with a fresh, fair wind. The
Alliance, in the midnight gloom, proudly unfurled at her mast-head the
Stars and Stripes. Every inch of canvas was spread to catch the breeze.
Flying closely along the Flemish banks, he was so fortunate as to elude
the observation of the fleets watching for his capture. Before the
morning dawned he was far away upon the broad expanse of the German
Ocean, where fleets might cruise for weeks and not meet each other.
There had been a very severe gale just before the departure of the
Alliance, which blew so fiercely upon the shore, that the English
squadron had been compelled to put to sea for safety. Doubtless to this
event Commodore Jones was much indebted for his escape.
This successful retreat of Commodore Jones from the overwhelming forces
which surrounded him is regarded, by naval authorities, as one of the
most successful of naval exploits. Keeping well to the windward of the
enemy’s fleet, he traversed the North Sea, sailing through the narrow
Straits of Dover, in full view of the British fleet in the Downs; passed
the Isle of Wight, almost within hailing distance of the shore, though
quite a fleet was at anchor at Spit-head; and, though he saw two-decked
cruising ships of the enemy before him and behind him and on each side
of him, he eluded them all, safely emerged from the British Channel and
continued his course down the western coast of France. This was a voyage
of not less than fifteen hundred miles.
Sometime before leaving the Texel he had received a complimentary poetic
epistle from a young lady at the Hague, who addressed him as King of the
Sea. When fairly out upon the German Ocean, with leisure hours, he on
the 1st of January, 1780, went into his cabin and wrote a poetic reply.
He was not a poet. But it is very doubtful whether Lord Nelson, under
the circumstances, could have done as well. As a specimen of his skill
in versification I will give the last stanza.
“But since, alas! the rage of war prevails,
And cruel Britons desolate our land,
For freedom still I spread my willing sails,
My unsheathed sword my injured country shall command.
Go on, bright maid; the muses all attend
Genius like thine, and wish to be its friend.
Trust me, although conveyed through this poor shift,
My New Year’s thoughts are grateful for thy gift.”
Commodore Jones was very desirous of not going empty-handed into port.
It was not enough for him merely to elude his enemies. He was resolved,
if possible, to take some prizes. He therefore ran down the Bay of
Biscay and westerly along the coast of Spain, several hundred miles, in
a region where it was very certain that the British men-of-war would not
be searching for him.
When cruising off Cape Finisterre, the extreme northwesterly cape of
Spain, he encountered a very severe storm. This led him to run for
shelter into the Spanish port of Corunna, where there was a fine harbor.
I may remark, in passing, that this Corunna subsequently became renowned
in history. Southey writes:
“Its filth is astonishing. Other towns attract the _eye_ of the
traveller. But Corunna takes his attention by the _nose_.”
This place became famous in the struggle between Spain and Napoleon I.
To this point Sir John Moore was fleeing in his disastrous retreat
before Napoleon, and near its walls he fell. The poet has immortalized
the event in the sublime ode, upon his burial by moonlight.
“Not a drum was heard, nor a funeral note,
As his corpse to the ramparts we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot,
O’er the grave where our hero was buried.”
At Corunna Commodore Jones was very kindly received by the Spanish
authorities. He remained in port twelve days, making sundry needful
repairs. Upon the evening of his arrival he wrote to Lafayette:
“I made my passage safe through the Channel in spite of all their
cruising ships and squadrons; and had the pleasure of looking at them in
the Downs, and in passing in sight of the Isle of Wight. I steered this
way in hopes of meeting some of their cruisers off Cape Finisterre, but
am hitherto disappointed.”
On the 28th of January, 1780, he again set sail, and after the
unsuccessful cruise of a fortnight, entered the harbor of L’Orient, in
France, on the 13th of February. This strongly fortified French port is
seated at the head of the bay Port Louis, about three miles from the
ocean. Here he learned that he was accused of cherishing a strong
dislike for the French people. In reply to this rumor he wrote to the
Marquis de Lafayette, under date of February 18th, 1780.
“M. Weibert has, I understand, taken great pains to promulgate that I do
not love France. To come to the point, here follows my political
profession. I am a citizen of the world, totally unfettered by the
little mean distinctions of country or of climate, which diminish or set
bounds to the benevolence of the heart. Impelled by principles of
gratitude and philanthropy I drew my sword at the beginning of the
American Revolution. And when France so nobly espoused that great cause,
no individual felt the obligation with truer gratitude than myself. When
the Court of France, soon after, invited me to remain for a time in
Europe, I considered myself as highly honored by the application that
was made to the American commissioners. Since that time I have been at
every instant, and I still am, ready to do my utmost for the good of the
common cause of France and America.
“As an American officer, and as a man, I affectionately love and respect
the character and nation of France, and hope the alliance with America
may last forever. I owe the greatest obligation to the generous praise
of the French nation on my past conduct, and shall be happy to merit
future favor. I greatly love and esteem his most Christian Majesty as
the great ally of America, the best of kings, and the amiable friend and
protector of the rights of human nature. Therefore he has few of his own
subjects who would bleed, in his present cause, with greater freedom
than myself, and none who are more disinterested. At the same time I
lament the calamities of war, and wish, above all things, for an
honorable, happy, and lasting peace.
“My fortune is not augmented by the part I have hitherto acted in the
revolution, although I have had frequent opportunities of acquiring
riches. And I pledged myself to the worthy part of mankind, that my
future conduct in the war shall not forfeit their good opinion. I am,
with great and sincere affection, happy in your friendship.”
Though Commodore Jones had not captured any prize, he fortunately met an
American ship, the Livingston, laden with tobacco, which he convoyed
into L’Orient.
The Alliance was needed to convey stores to the United Colonies. But she
was in need of very thorough repairs before she could safely spread sail
on so important a voyage. The seas were covered with British war vessels
of double her number of guns. It was therefore essential that she should
be prepared for a rapid flight. There were fifteen thousand stand of
good arms to be sent, and one hundred and twenty large bales of cloth
for the army, with other freight of great value. The loss of these would
prove a great calamity.
Commodore Jones felt that it would be madness to undertake to cross the
ocean, with so valuable a cargo, without putting the ship in the best
possible trim. But the French court, which had been at great expense in
fitting out its own ships, declined furnishing funds from an exhausted
treasury; and the American commissioners in Paris, representatives of
the feeble colonies, had neither money nor credit. There is true pathos
in the letter which Dr. Franklin wrote the commodore on this occasion.
“As to refitting your ship,” he wrote, “at the expense of this court,
there is not the least probability of obtaining it; and therefore I
cannot ask it. The whole expense will therefore fall upon me; and I am
ill provided to bear it, having so many unexpected calls upon me from
all quarters. I therefore beg you would have mercy on me. Put me to as
little charge as possible, and take nothing you can possibly do without.
I approve of your applying to Messrs. Gourlade and Moylan for what
repairs you want, having an exceeding good opinion of those gentlemen.
But let me repeat it, for God’s sake be sparing, unless you mean to make
me a bankrupt, or have your drafts dishonored, for want of money in my
hands to pay them.”
To this appeal the commodore replied, “I feel your reasons for urging
frugality. And as I have not, hitherto, been among the extravagant
servants of America, so you may depend upon it, my regard for you will
make me particularly nice in my present situation.”
By the middle of April the Alliance, under the very energetic and
skilful superintendence of Commodore Jones, was ready for sea. Competent
judges declared that it was one of the finest frigates to be found in
France. Though it was manifestly for Commodore Jones’s pecuniary
interest to remain with his splendid ship in the region of rich prizes,
where at any time, in a few hours, he could run into the fortified ports
of France, yet, without a murmur, he undertook the more humble
employment of conveying stores to America.
There were four gentlemen in Paris, including one of the commissioners,
Mr. Arthur Lee, who wished to take passage with him. Landais, when he
fled from the Texel, left his trunks on board the Alliance. Doctor
Franklin wrote to Commodore Jones:
“Captain Landais has demanded of me an order to you, to deliver to him
his trunks. I find him so exceedingly captious and critical, and so apt
to misconstrue, as an intended injustice, every expression in a language
which he does not immediately understand, that I am tired of writing
anything for him or about him, and am determined to have nothing further
to do with him.”
Innumerable difficulties had arisen about the adjustment and
distribution of the prizes. The sailors had not received their wages,
and not even a dollar of their prize money. Many of them were in a state
of great destitution. Their chests of clothing had gone down in the Bon
Homme Richard; and after the long delay in the Texel they were almost in
rags.
Landais, having been commissioned by the American Congress, demanded to
be sent to this country for trial upon the charges brought against him.
This request had been granted, and Dr. Franklin had furnished him with
funds to pay his passage, in the Luzerne, an American merchant ship.
There were many very serious charges tabled against him. In defence of
the most severe accusation, that he had fired into the Bon Homme
Richard, he presented the plea that the two ships were lashed together,
and that he could not fire into the Serapis, without some of his shot
being liable to strike the Richard. But the testimony given by Nathaniel
Fanning seems conclusive, as it was corroborated by much other
testimony. He was stationed in the main-top of the Richard, where he
remained during the whole action.
He testified that two hours after the engagement commenced, the Alliance
came under the stern of the Richard, and discharged her whole broadside
into the ship. She then came under the bow of the Richard, and
discharged another volley of grape and round shot. The Alliance was
within hail, and some of the officers of the Richard shouted, “For God’s
sake don’t fire into us. You have already killed several of our men.”
Still she fired a number of shot afterwards into the Richard.
Another officer of the Richard testified that he was standing on the
quarter-deck in the midst of the smoke and tumult of the battle, when
they were struck by a raking fire, and two men fell dead at his side. He
then heard several cry out, “The Alliance is manned with Englishmen, and
is firing on us.” The Alliance then passed by, and after a couple of
hours came under their stern and discharged a full broadside into the
Richard.
“It is my sincere opinion,” this witness testified, “that the motive of
Captain Landais must have been to kill Captain Jones, and distress the
Richard, so as to cause her to strike to the Serapis, that he might be
able to take both vessels and honor himself with the laurels of that
day.”
Several pages of similar testimony might be given. All alike testified
that the Alliance never passed on the off-side of the Serapis; but ever
kept the Richard between the Serapis and her guns. Thus, if any of her
shot struck the Serapis, they must have first passed through the
Richard.
Commodore Jones, sympathizing with his men in their utter destitution,
and the apparent wrongs under which they were suffering, felt
constrained to go personally to Paris to plead with the court at
Versailles, in their behalf. Months had passed during which they had
received no wages. They had captured many valuable prizes, but no money
had come back to them. Two of these, it will be remembered, which were
valued at two hundred thousand dollars, Captain Landais, contrary to the
orders of Commodore Jones, had sent to Norway. The Norwegian Government,
alarmed by the menaces of England, surrendered them both to the British
ambassador, on the ground that Captain Jones had not been commissioned
by any government which Norway had recognized.
The other prizes, which were in French ports, were to be sold at
auction. But in consequence of some technicalities of the laws, whose
delays are proverbial, the ships had not yet been sold. The
commissioners at Paris, in their poverty, sent to the crew of the
Alliance a sum of money which amounted to about ten dollars apiece. This
did but excite their indignation and derision. Some, in their chagrin,
chucked the coin into the water.
Commodore Jones was a handsome man about thirty-six years of age, of
fine figure, fair complexion, pleasant features, and courtly bearing. He
was a man of literary tastes and studious habits. He wrote poetry, and
spoke the French language with considerable fluency. These personal and
mental accomplishments, added to his chivalric exploits, the fame of
which had filled the world, rendered him an object of remarkable and
universal attention in the Court of Versailles.
The king was his personal friend, and made him a present of an
exquisitely wrought gold-headed sword. The king and the court were
united in lavishing honor upon him. He was invited to dine with the most
illustrious members of that aristocratic court. Wherever he appeared,
the eyes of the crowd followed his steps. These extraordinary
attentions, which were sufficient to turn the head of any ordinary man,
do not appear to have diminished, in the slightest degree, Paul Jones’s
zeal in the public service. The court was then greatly embarrassed for
money. The measureless extravagances of Louis XIV. and Louis XV. had
plunged the nation into hopeless bankruptcy, and hourly, matters were
ripening for all the horrors of the French Revolution.
Thus the court, though lavish in compliments, had but little money to
confer in charity upon the struggling colonies. Commodore Jones, with
unusual literary culture for a man in his situation, moved through all
these scenes with the winning manners of a well-bred man. He felt the
importance of conciliating all possible influences in favor of the
imperilled country of his adoption.
In the court of Versailles, the ladies often controlled the most
important affairs of state. The guilty favorites of the two preceding
kings had in a great measure guided the destinies of Europe. Maria
Antoinette was far more the sovereign than her weak but well-meaning
spouse.
Among the ladies of highest rank, by whom he was particularly honored,
were a daughter of Louis XV., and the Countess of Lavendahl.
An English lady at Versailles writes to a friend, “The famous Paul Jones
dines and sups here often. He is a smart man of thirty-six, speaks but
little French, appears to be an extraordinary genius, a poet as well as
a hero. He is greatly admired here, especially by the ladies, who are
wild for love of him. But he adores the Countess of Lavendahl, who has
honored him with every mark of politeness and distinction. A few days
ago he wrote some verses extempore, of which I send you a copy.” The
following are the verses.
“Insulted freedom bled: I felt her cause,
And drew my sword to vindicate her laws
From principle, and not from vain applause
I’ve done my best; self-interest apart
And self-reproach a stranger to my heart,
My zeal still prompts, ambitious to pursue
The foe, ye fair, of liberty and you;
Grateful for praise, spontaneous and unbought,
A generous people’s love not meanly sought;
To merit this, and bend the knee to beauty
Shall be my earliest and my latest duty.”
In a subsequent letter the same lady wrote, “Since my last, Paul Jones
drank tea and supped here. If I am in love with him, for love I may die.
I have as many rivals as there are ladies. The most formidable is Lady
Lavendahl, who possesses all his heart. This lady is of high rank and
virtue, very sensible, good-natured and affable. Besides this, she is
possessed of youth, beauty, wit, and every other female accomplishment.”
Commodore Jones had but just left L’Orient, on the all-important mission
to Versailles, when Landais went to that port to get his trunks and to
take passage in the Luzerne for America. Finding the commodore absent,
and the crew almost in a state of mutiny, he resolved to make an attempt
to recover the command of the Alliance.
He represented that Jones, leaving the crew in their destitution, had
gone to Paris to enjoy the feasting and adulation which were lavished
upon him there. He insinuated that they had been robbed of their prize
money, and that Jones and his confederates had appropriated it to their
own luxurious indulgence. He also represented that Jones was regarded by
the European courts, and would be regarded by Congress, simply as a
privateersman, sailing on his own account, and that consequently his
seamen, when they arrived in America, would be deserted by him, and that
they could expect no wages from Congress.
This was very artful malice. It shows that Landais possessed very
considerable powers of wicked intrigue. He even succeeded in winning
over to his side Commissioner Lee, who was to return in the Alliance,
and who was not on very good terms with the other members of the
Congressional delegation. Captain Landais obtained from Commissioner Lee
an opinion containing the following statement, under date of May, 13th:
“From documents exhibited to me, it is clear, beyond a possibility of
doubt, that Captain Landais commands the Alliance, under the full,
direct, and express order of Congress; and that no such authority
appears to dismiss him from the command. In this situation Captain
Landais must answer at his peril for the frigate intrusted to him, till
he receives an order of Congress to deliver her to another. If such
order exists, those who have it do infinite wrong to the service, in not
producing it. If there is no such order, the subjects of the United
States, who attempt to divest Captain Landais of the command he holds
from the sovereign power, or to disturb him by violence in the exercise
of it, commit a high crime against the laws and sovereignity of the
United States, and subject themselves to a proportionable punishment.”
Mr. Lee knew full well the views of Dr. Franklin upon this all-important
subject. Rather defiantly he wrote: “This is my opinion, founded on a
cool and candid consideration of the authorities on both sides. You are
at liberty to show this letter to whom you please, or to send it to Dr.
Franklin.”
Landais had abandoned the Alliance at the Texel, and had run away, to
avoid arrest for challenging his superior officer to a duel. For seven
months he had not stepped on board the ship, during which time Jones had
been in undisputed command. He was now virtually under arrest, to be
sent back to America to be tried for one of the most atrocious crimes
which could be committed. Dr. Franklin, learning that Landais was still
at L’Orient, and that he had written to some one, “I am waiting for
Franklin’s orders to take command of the Alliance,” addressed a letter
to him, expressing his astonishment that he was not long before on his
way to America for trial, for which voyage Franklin had provided him
with funds. And he added, “I waive any further dispute with you. But I
charge you not to meddle with the command of the Alliance, or to create
any disturbance on board her, as you will answer to the contrary at your
peril.”
Landais succeeded in having a paper drawn up, and signed by one hundred
and sixteen of the more than four hundred sailors of the Alliance, which
was addressed to Dr. Franklin, and which stated that they would not
raise the anchor, to leave L’Orient, until they had received six months’
wages, the utmost farthing of the prize money due, including the ships
sent to Norway, and _until their legal captain, Pierre Landais, was
restored to them_.
Dr. Franklin immediately went to the court at Versailles, which is but
twelve miles from Paris, and entered a complaint against Landais as a
fomenter of mutiny. The proof of Landais’ guilt was manifest, and orders
were immediately sent for his arrest and imprisonment. In the meantime
Jones had obtained, from the court, orders for a fine copper-bottomed
French ship, the Ariel, to sail to America in company with the Alliance.
He had made all his arrangements to spread his sails a week after his
return to L’Orient from Paris.
Franklin wrote to the mutinous crew of the Alliance, expressing his
surprise that they could have any confidence in one who had behaved as
they all knew Landais to have done. He closed his letter with the
following conciliatory words:
“For myself, I believe you to be brave men and lovers of your country
and its glorious cause. And I am persuaded that you have only been ill
advised and misled by the artful and malicious representations of some
persons I guess at.[C] Take in good part this friendly counsel from an
old man, who is your friend. Go home peaceably with your ship. Do your
duty faithfully and cheerfully. Behave respectfully to your commander,
and I am persuaded he will do the same to you. Thus you will not only be
happier in your voyage, but will recommend yourselves to the future
favors of Congress and your country.”
-----
Footnote C:
He doubtless refers to Commissioner Lee.
-----
To Commodore Jones he wrote. “You are liable to have great trouble. I
wish you well through it. You have shown your abilities in fighting. You
have now the opportunity of showing the other necessary part in the
character of a great chief—your abilities in policy.”