Commodore Paul Jones 10

Commodore Paul Jones 10

"My conduct hitherto," he writes on this subject in the memorial

addressed to Congress from the Texel years after, "was so much

approved of by Congress that on the 5th of February, 1777, I was

appointed, with unlimited orders, to command a little squadron of the

Alfred, Columbus, Cabot, Hampden, and sloop Providence. Various

important services were pointed out, but I was left at free liberty to

make my election. That service, however, did not take place; for the

commodore, who had three of the squadron blocked in at Providence,

affected to disbelieve my appointment, and would not at last give me

the necessary assistance. Finding that he trifled with my applications

as well as the orders of Congress, I undertook a journey from Boston

to Philadelphia, in order to explain matters to Congress in person. I

took this step also because Captain Hinman had succeeded me in the

command of the Alfred, and, of course, the service could not suffer

through my absence. I arrived at Philadelphia in the beginning of

April. But what was my surprise to find that, by a new line of navy

rank, which had taken place on the 10th day of October, 1776, all the

officers that had stepped forth at the beginning were superseded! I

was myself superseded by thirteen men, not one of whom did (and

perhaps some of them durst not) take the sea against the British flag

at the first; for several of them who were then applied to refused to

venture, and none of them has since been very happy in proving their

superior abilities. Among these thirteen there are individuals who can

neither pretend to parts nor education, and with whom, as a private

gentleman, I would disdain to associate.

 

"I leave your excellency and the Congress to judge how this must

affect a man of honour and sensibility.

 

"I was told by President Hancock that what gave me so much pain had

been the effect of a multiplicity of business. He acknowledged the

injustice of that regulation, said it should make but a nominal and

temporary difference, and that in the meantime I might assure myself

that no navy officer stood higher in the opinion of Congress than

myself."

 

 

The complete news of his displacement and supersession in rank does

not appear to have reached him before this. His efforts to secure the

restoration of his rank proving useless, he applied for immediate sea

duty. The next attempt on the part of the Marine Committee to gratify

Jones's wish for active service, and avail themselves of his ability

at the same time, took the shape of a resolution of Congress

authorizing him to choose the best of three ships which it was

proposed to purchase in Boston, which he was to command until some

better provision could be made for him. He was ordered to that point

to fit out the ship. During this period of harassing anxiety he gave

great attention to formulating plans and making suggestions looking to

a more effective organization of the new naval establishment.

 

To Robert Morris, chairman of the committee, on different occasions,

he communicated his views on this important subject in a series of

valuable letters, of which the following are pertinent extracts:

 

"As the regulations of the navy are of the utmost consequence, you

will not think me presumptuous, if, with the utmost diffidence, I

venture to communicate to you such hints as, in my judgment, will

promote its honor and good government. I could heartily wish that

every commissioned officer were to be previously examined; for, to my

certain knowledge, there are persons who have already crept into

commission without abilities or fit qualifications; I am myself far

from desiring to be excused. From experience in ours, as well as from

my former intimacy with many officers of note in the British navy, I

am convinced that the parity of rank between sea and land or marine

officers is of more consequence to the harmony of the sea service than

has generally been imagined... I propose not our enemies as an example

for our general imitation; yet, as their navy is the best regulated of

any in the world, we must, in some degree, imitate them, and aim at

such further improvement as may one day make ours vie with and exceed

theirs."

 

With regard to the difficulty of recruiting seamen, some of whom,

finding the merchant service or coasting trade was broken up, had

entered the army at the beginning of the war, while many more had

engaged in privateering--a much more profitable vocation than the

regular service--he says:

 

 

"It is to the least degree distressing to contemplate the state and

establishment of our navy. The common class of mankind are actuated by

no nobler principle than that of self-interest; this, and this alone,

determines all adventurers in privateers--the owners, as well as those

whom they employ. And while this is the case, unless the private

emolument of individuals in our navy is made superior to that in

privateers, it can never become respectable, it will never become

formidable. And without a respectable navy--alas! America. In the

present critical situation of affairs human wisdom can suggest no more

than one infallible expedient: enlist the seamen during pleasure, and

give them all the prizes. What is the paltry emolument of two thirds

of prizes to the finances of this vast continent? If so poor a

resource is essential to its independence, in sober sadness we are

involved in a woeful predicament, and our ruin is fast approaching.

The situation of America is new in the annals of mankind; her affairs

cry haste, and speed must answer them. Trifles, therefore, ought to be

wholly disregarded, as being, in the old vulgar proverb, penny wise

and pound foolish. If our enemies, with the best establishment and

most formidable navy in the universe, have found it expedient to

assign all prizes to the captors, how much more is such policy

essential to our infant fleet! But I need use no arguments to convince

you of the necessity of making the emoluments of our navy equal, if

not superior, to theirs. We have had proof that a navy may be

officered on almost any terms, but we are not so sure that these

officers are equal to their commissions; nor will the Congress ever

obtain such certainty until they in their wisdom see proper to appoint

a board of admiralty competent to determine impartially the respective

merits and abilities of their officers, and to superintend, regulate,

and point out all the motions and operations of the navy."

 

 

In another letter to Robert Morris he writes:

 

 

"There are no officers more immediately wanted in the marine

department than commissioners of dockyards, to superintend the

building and outfits of all ships of war; with power to appoint

deputies, to provide, and have in constant readiness, sufficient

quantities of provisions, stores, and slops, so that the small number

of ships we have may be constantly employed, and not continue idle, as

they do at present. Besides all the advantages that would arise from

such appointments, the saving which would accrue to the continent is

worth attending to. Had such men been appointed at the first, the new

ships might have been at sea long ago. The difficulty now lies in

finding men who are deserving, and who are fitly qualified for an

office of such importance."

 

 

We are surprised at the clear insight of this untrained, inexperienced

Scotsman, whom, by the way, I shall hereafter call an American. Most

of his recommendations have long since been adopted in our own navy

and other navies of the world. His conclusions are the results of his

long and thorough professional study, his habits of application, his

power of comprehension and faculty of clear and explicit statement.

His observations would do credit to the most trained observer with

large experience back of his observation.

 

Another curious letter to a former friend on the island of Tobago,

written at this time, which deals with certain investments in property

with balances due him from his various trading ventures, contains the

following statement:

 

 

"As I hope my dear mother is still alive, I must inform you that I

wish my property in Tobago, or in England, after paying my just debts,

to be applied for her support. Your own feelings, my dear sir, make it

unnecessary for me to use arguments to prevail with you on this tender

point. Any remittances which you may be enabled to make, through the

hands of my good friend Captain John Plainer, of Cork, will be

faithfully put into her hands; she hath several orphan grandchildren

to provide for."

 

 

All of which plainly indicates that, though a citizen of another

country and the bearer of another name, he still retained those

natural feelings of affection which his enemies would fain persuade us

were not in his being.

 

While waiting at Boston for the purchase of the ships referred to, he

was selected by Congress to command a heavy ship of war, a frigate to

be called the Indien, then building at Amsterdam, which undoubtedly

would be the most formidable vessel in the American service. This

would be not only a just tribute to his merit, but would also solve

the difficulty about relative rank, for he would be the highest

ranking officer in Continental waters, and there could be no conflict

of authority. He was directed to proceed at once to Europe to take

command of this ship. The Marine Committee sent the following letter,

addressed to the commissioners of the United States in Europe, to Paul

Jones, for him to present to them on his arrival in France:

 

 

"Philadelphia, _May 9, 1777_.

 

"Honourable Gentlemen: This letter is intended to be delivered to you

by John Paul Jones, Esquire, an active and brave commander in our

navy, who has already performed signal services in vessels of little

force; and, in reward for his zeal, we have directed him to go on

board the Amphitrite, a French ship of twenty guns, that brought in a

valuable cargo of stores from Messrs. Hortalez & Co.,[4] and with her

to repair to France. He takes with him his commission, and some

officers and men, so that we hope he will, under that sanction, make

some good prizes with the Amphitrite; but our design of sending him

is, with the approbation of Congress, that you may purchase one of

those fine frigates that Mr. Deane writes us you can get, and invest

him with the command thereof as soon as possible. We hope you may not

delay this business one moment, but purchase, in such port or place in

Europe as it can be done with most convenience and dispatch, a fine,

fast-sailing frigate, or larger ship. Direct Captain Jones where he

must repair to, and he will take with him his officers and men toward

manning her. You will assign him some good house or agent, to supply

him with everything necessary to get the ship speedily and well

equipped and mann