can prisoners in England. the war, an exchange of prisoners | der to exchange with, the Amerihad taken place between Gen. Washington and the commanders of the Admiral D'Orvilliers, to whom I enemy's army; notwithstanding the communicated this project, offered to haughty conduct of Great Britain, procure for me a captain's commisshe was obliged to submit to this ar- sion in the French marine, that, in rangement, and consider the Ame- case I met with any disaster, I might rican soldiers, as prisoners of war. claim the protection of his most It was, however, an atrocious Christian majesty; but however adcrime to act against her by sea; and vantageous this was, I determined England, on this occasion, perpetu- to decline the acceptance; because ated anew, all the cruelties on Ame- in the first place, I was not authorica which she had lavished on Scot-rized by congress to change my land in 1745. A ferocious and vin- flag; and, in the second, such a dictive people would have rejoiced conduct might have rendered my atto have seen the American sailors tachment to America suspected. cut down from the gibbet while yet I accordingly sailed from Brest, alive, their breast opened with a and advanced towards Ireland, neknife, and their yet palpitating glecting the capture of a number of hearts thrown into the flames! If vessels within my reach, as I did they did not dare to attempt this, not wish to diminish the strength of they, however, shut up a number of my crew. Near to the entrance into citizens of the United States in the Carrickfergus, I however, seized on English prisons during five whole a fishing-boat, manned with six peryears, where they suffered all the sons, who proved to be pilots. The horrors proceeding from cold, hun- Drake, a twenty-gun ship, happened ger, and every sort of mal-treatment. to be then on the road, and even Some of these unfortunates were within sight; I imagined it possisold on the coast of Africa, while ble to obtain possession of her by others, were transported to the surprise during the night. With this West Indies. The firmness with view, I immediately gave orders for which these martyrs of liberty sup- making the necessary preparations; ported their hard lot, is wholly un- but the mate, who had drank too exampled; for they preferred every much brandy, did not let go the ankind of persecution to serving on chor according to orders, which preboard the English navy. vented the Ranger from running Indignant at the barbarous treat-foul of the Drake, according to my ment experienced by the Americans, I determined to make a grand effort in their behalf, with a view of stopping the barbarous proceedings of the English in Europe, as well as on the western continent; in the latter of which they set fire to their houses, destroyed their property, and burned and destroyed whole towns. I accordingly determined, by way of retaliation, to effect a descent upon some part of England, with a view of destroying the shipping. It was also my intention to make some person of distinction prisoner, whom I resolved to detain as a hostage for the security of, and in or intentions. As I had reason to believe, that my appearance had not hitherto given any alarm I deemed it prudent to cut my cable, and return into St. George's channel. I remained there, buffetted about by the winds, during three days, until the weather having become more favourable, I determined a second time to attempt a descent; this project, however, greatly alarmed my, lieutenants; they were poor, they said, and their object was gain, not honour: they accordingly excited disobedience among the ship's company, by persuading them that they had a right to determine, whether the mea sures adopted by me were well concerted or not. I happened to be at this period within sight of Whitehaven, in Cumberland, at the mouth of the Solway Frith. This is a considerable harbour, in which there then were about 400 sail, some of them vessels of 250 tons burthen; and I had determined to take advantage of the ebb tide, when the shipping was dry, to destroy them. To effect this, it was necessary to land about midnight, with a party of determined men, and seize on a fort and a battery, which defended the port. My two lieutenants, being averse to the enterprise, and yet being unwilling to discover their true motives, feigned illness. Ou this I determined to take the command in person, and with much difficulty prevailed on thirty volunteers to follow me. With this handful of men, and two small boats, I quitted the Ranger, at eleven o'clock at night, and rowed towards the harbour; but, it being farther off than we imagined, and the tide against us, day broke before we had effected a landing. I now sent the smallest of the boats towards the northern side of the harbour to set fire to the vessels, while I myself advanced with the other to the south, to take possession of the fort and battery, the first of which was taken by assault, I myself being the first to enter it through one of the embrasures. We then nailed up the thirty-six cannon mounted on the batteries, and advanced towards the south, with a view of burning all the vessels, when to my infinite astonishment, I beheld the other boat returning, without having done any thing. On this I deemed it best to unite my forces, with a view of effecting, at least, some part of our enterprise. In short we set fire to some of the vessels, and it soon burned with great fierceness, and began to communicate; but as it was now eight o'clock in the morning, and the in habitants began to approach near us in crowds, I could no longer defer my retreat, which was made in good order. On my return on board the Ranger, the wind being favourable, I set sail for the coast of Scotland. It was my intention to take the Earl of Selkirk prisoner, and detain his lordship as a hostage, in conformity to the project already mentioned. It was with this view about noon of the same day I landed on that nobleman's estate, with two officers and a few men. In the course of my progress, I fell in with some of the inhabitants, who, taking me for an Englishman, observed, that Lord Selkirk was then in London, but that her ladyship and several other ladies were at the castle. On this, I determined to return : but such moderate conduct was not conformable to the wishes of my people, who were disposed to pillage, burn and destroy every thing, in imitation of the conduct of the English towards the Americans. Although I was not disposed to copy such horrid proceedings, more especially when a lady was in question, it was yet necessary to recur to such means as should satisfy their cupidity, and, at the same time, provide for Lady Selkirk's safety. It immediately appeared to me, to be the most proper mode to give orders to the two officers to repair to the castle with the men, who were to remain on the outside under arms, while they themselves entered, alone. They were then instructed to enter, and demand the family plate, in a polite manner, accepting whatever was offered them, and then to return, without making any further inquiries, or attempting to search for more. I was punctually obeyed; the plate was delivered: Lady Selkirk herself observed to the officers, that she was exceedingly sensible of my moderation; she even intimated a wish to repair to the shore, although a mile distance from her residence, in order to invite me to dinner; but | In the mean time, the captain of the Drake sloop of war, having been informed of our descent at Whitehaven, prepared to attack us; and, while every thing was getting ready, he despatched an officer on board his boat, with a spy-glass, in order to reconnoitre the Ranger. On this, I immediately masked my guns, kept my men out of sight, and disguised the vessel in such a manner as to resemble a merchantman; in consequence of this the crew of the boat were deceived and taken. This trifling success produced the effect of enchantment on my sailors, who were no longer averse from giving her battle. The Drake, having fired some cannon to recal her boat, hoisted her anchor, and came out attended by a number of yachts and pleasure-boats, with ladies and gentlemen on board: but when the engagement became serious, they thought proper to withdraw to a respectful distance. No sooner did the enemy make his appearance, than I lay to, determined not to engage until she came within pistol shot. The engage ment was accordingly sustained with great vivacity on both sides, during an hour and five minutes, when the captain and lieutenant being both mortally wounded, the English flag was lowered, and I took possession of her. I regretted greatly the death of these brave men, and committed them to the ocean with all the honours due to their valour. I, at the same time, dismissed the six fishermen, whom I have before mentioned, whose loss I repaired, and whose services I recompensed out of my own purse. The Drake was greatly damaged in her masts and tackling, and lost forty men either killed or wounded during the action. I had also taken several other prizes; but, as my complement of men had only amounted to one hundred and twenty-three, I retained no more than two of them, which arrived in safety at Brest, where I myself anchored with the Ranger and Drake, on the 7th of May, after an absence of twenty-eight days, during which I had taken upwards of two hundred prisoners. This expedition was of great disservice to Great Britain, as she was not only obliged to fortify her ports, but also to permit the arming of the Irish volunteers, as Lord Mountmorris demonstrated in a speech in parliament. At the time I had been obliged to permit my people to take Lady Selkirk's plate, I determined to redeem it out of my own funds the moment it should be sold, and restore it to the family. Accordingly on my arrival at Brest, I instantly despatched a most pathetic letter to her ladyship, in which I detailed the motives of my expedition, and the cruel necessity I was under, in consequence of the conduct of the English in America, to inflict the punishment of retaliation. This was sent open to the postmaster-general, that it might be shown to the king of England and his ministers, and the court of St. James was at length obliged to renounce the sanguinary act of its parliament, and exchange those very Americans whom they called traitors, pirates and felons, against the prisoners of war, whom I had taken and carried to France. "RANGER, BREST, 8th May, 1778. "Madam-It cannot be too much lamented, that, in the profession of arms, the officer of finer feeling, and of real sensibility, should be under the necessity of winking at any action of persons under his command, which his heart cannot approve; but, the reflection is doubly severe, when he finds himself obliged, in appearance, to countenance such action by authority. "This hard case was mine, when, on the 23d of April last, I landed on St. Mary's Isle. Knowing Lord Selkirk's interest with his king, I wished to make him the happy instrument of alleviating the horrors of hopeless captivity, when the brave are overpowered and made prisoners of war. It was perhaps fortunate for you, madam, that he was from home, for it was my intention to have taken him on board the Ranger, and to have detained him, until, through his means, a general and fair exchange of prisoners, as well in Europe as in America, had been effected. "When I was informed, by some men whom I met at landing, that his lorsdhip was absent, I walked back to my boat, determined to leave the island. By the way, however, some officers, who were with me, could not forbear expressing their discontent, observing, that in America no delicacy was shown by the English, who took away all sorts of moveable property, setting fire not only to towns, and to the houses of the rich, without distinction, but not even sparing the wretched hamlets and milk-cows of the poor and helpless, at the approach of an inclement winter. That party had been with me as volunteers the same morning at Whitehaven ; some complaisance, therefore, was their due. I had but a moment to think how I might gratify them, and at the same time, do your ladyship the least injury. I charged the two officers to permit none of the seamen to enter the house, or to hurt any thing about it; to treat you, madam, with the utmost respect; to accept of the plate which was offered; and to come away without | making a search, or demanding any thing else. I am induced to believe that I was punctually obeyed, since I am informed that the plate which they brought away is far short of the quantity which is expressed in the inventory which accompanied it. I have gratified my men, and when the plate is sold I shall become the purchaser, and will gratify my own feelings, by restoring it to you by such conveyance as you shall please to direct. "Had the earl been on board the following evening, he would bave seen the awful pomp and dreadful carnage of a sea engagement; both affording ample subject for the pencil, as well as melancholy reflection for the contemplative mind. Humanity starts back at such scenes of horror, and cannot but execrate the vile promoters of this detested war : For they, 'twas they, unsheathed the ruthless blade, And Heaven shall ask the havoc it has made. "The British ship of war Drake, mounting twenty guns, with more than her full complement of officers and men, besides a number of volunteers, came out from Carrickfergus, in order to attack and take the continental ship of war Ranger, of eighteen guns, and short of her complement of officers and men; the ships met, and the advantage was disputed with great fortitude on each side for an hour and five minutes, when the gallant commander of the Drake fell, and victory declared in favour of the Ranger. His amiable lieutenant lay mortally wounded, besides near forty of the inferior officers and crew killed and wounded. A melancholy demonstration of the uncertainty of human prospects. I buried them in a spacious grave, with the honours due to the memory of the brave. "Though I have drawn my sword in the present generous struggle for the rights of man, yet I am in arms merely as an American, nor am I in, pursuit of riches. My fortune is liberal enough, having no wife nor family, and having lived long enough to know that riches cannot ensure happiness. I profess myselfa citizen of the world, totally unfettered by the little mean distinctions of climate or of country, which diminish the benevolence of the heart, and set bounds to philanthropy. Before this war began, I had, at an early time of life, withdrawn from the sea-service, in favour of calm contemplation and poetic ease.' I have sacrificed, not only my favourite scheme of life, but the softer affections of the heart, and my prospects of domestic happiness, and I am ready to sacrifice my life, also, with cheerfulness, if that forfeiture would restore peace and good will among mankind. "As the feelings of your gentle bosom cannot, in that respect, but be congenial with mine, let me entreat you, madam, to use your soft persuasive arts with your husband, to endeavour to stop this cruel and destructive war, in which Britain never can succeed. Heaven can never countenance the barbarous and unmanly practices of the Britons in America, which savages would blush at, and which, if not discontinued, will soon be retaliated in Britain by a justly enraged people. Should you fail in this, (for I am persuaded you will attempt it-and who can resist the power of such an advocate?) your endeavours to effect a general exchange of prisoners will be an act of humanity, which will afford you golden feelings on a death-bed. "I hope this cruel contest will soon be closed; but should it continue, I wage no war with the fair! I acknowledge their power, and bend before it with profound submission! Let not, therefore, the amiable Countess of Selkirk regard me as an enemy; I am ambitious of her esteem and friendship, and would do any thing, Consistent with my duty, to merit it. The honour of a line from your ་་ hand, in answer to this, will lay me under a very singular obligation; and if I can render you any acceptable service, in France or elsewhere, I hope you see into my character so far as to command me without the least grain of service. I wish to know, exactly, the behaviour of my people, as I am determined to punish them if they have exceeded their liberty. "I bave the honour to be, with much esteem and profound respect, madam, your most obedient and most humble servant. "PAUL JONES. "To the Right Hon. the Countess of Selkirk, St. Mary's Isle, Scotland." During the course of the war, I found it impossible to restore the plate belonging to the Selkirk famiÎy; I, however, purchased it at a great price, and at length found means to send it by land from l'Orient to Calais, by means of M. de Calonne, who transmitted me a very flattering letter on the occasion; in short I at length received a very flattering letter from the Earl of Selkirk, acknowledging the receipt of it. I had no sooner arrived at Brest, than Admiral the Count D'Orvilliers transmitted an account of my expedition to the minister of the marine, in consequence of which it was intimated to Dr. Franklin, that his majesty was desirous that I should repair to Versailles, as he was resolved to employ me on a secret expedition, for which purpose he would give me the Indienne, with some other frigates, with troops, &c, for the purpose of effecting a descent. I was instantly informed of this by the ambassador, who observed to me, at the same time, that this must be considered as a profound secret, it being of so important a nature, that it had been deemed proper to withhold a communication of it even to his colleagues. M. de Sartine received me with |