APPENDICES

APPENDIX A.

Copies of the Remarks in the Log Book of the Bon Homme Richard, now in the possession of the Selkirk family.

Remarkes on Wednessday. Sept the 22 1779

This 24 hourses Begins with a Litte Brieze of wind and Showry weather att 3 PM saw a Sail and att 4 PM Took him at ½ peast 4 took him in tow and att 6 P.M saw a flet of 16 Sailes Larg and Small Signleled the prize and Cast him off and made a Signel and made sail after them the peallice gave Chace to on that was to Leeward and the Veangence come with us att 7. P M Lost Sitte of them and att 8 got Sitte of on and gave Chace and att 9 tak Ship

att 11 P M Cam up with the Chace so near as to give hire a gun and fired a nomber of gunes att hire But Sh Did not Bring too att wore Ship and spid a Sail ahead which was the Veangance att ½ peast 12 saw a Sail and att 1 a m Spok with him & She proved to Be a Bridg from otterdam we hoisted out the Small Boat and Sent an offsir and 2 hands to take Charge of here and 2 hands to fich the Boat and prissoners a Bord and mad Sail

att 8 a m Cald all hands to Quarters Saw a Ship in Shore hoisted a jack att the fore top galmast head for a poilot att 9 we saw 2 poilot Bots aComing att 10 one Borded us att ½ peast 10 the other Borded the prise we mand first Boat and Sent to the prise and Brought the other aBord

Remarkes on Thursday Sept the 23: 1779

This 24 Hourses Begins with a Litte Breze of wind and Raniey weather the wind Vearible Att 4 P. M toek the Littel Sloop pulot in tow att healef peast to sent Shooneur pilot Boat to go a Bord of the prise Bridg to sink hir But seeing hir make Sail for the Land hald the Boat to Come Beack att ½ Peast 5 the Boat got a Long Sid and we took hir in tow a Stairn of the other att 6PM Spirean Littes Bor W N W Distance 6 Leagues att ½ peast 11 P M Saw two Sailes att 1 A. M Cald all hands att 2 A M all to Quearters att ½ peast 2 hoistd 3 Littes 1 fowd 1 amid Shipes & 1 afte att ¾ peast 2 hoistd 2 more Leites att the mirzon peak Laid the m & mison top Sailes to the mast the Sailes Shod a Litte att 4 wore Ship att 5 A M hisde a Chuckerd flag att the mezin peak att ½ peast 5 found them to Be the Elliance and pealaice two of our Cone Sortes or twoo of our flete

Remarks on Friday 24th.. September 1779

The First part of this twenty four Hours clear and Pleasant Weather with Moderate Breeses of Wind—— At 3 P.M. sent the small Schooner with Mr. Lunt and A Number of Marines in her to Board a Schooner Brigg to the Windward of us at ½ past Do. the Alliance hove out a Signal and bore away we immediately fir'd a gun for the Schooner to give over Chase and kept away—— at 4 sett Steering Sails fore and aft (in Chase of two Ships) At 6 P.M. Hoisted a Blue flag Blue Pendant & a Blue & Yellow Flag At ½ past Do. came up with the largest Ship and engaged her; the Alliance engag'd the small Ship which soon struck. Att 8 A.M. the Alliance came under our stern and Rak'd us fore & aft. She then shot just ahead of us and did the like again, we were all this time closely engag'd with our Antagonist lying so near each other that our Yard Arms was within her's; at 10 P.M. She Struck her Colours and prov'd to be the Searuppus of 44 Guns soon after She Struck her Main Mast fell over her side. The People employed in putting fire out that had catch'd in several parts of the Ship & in Pomping for we were very near sinking; The Ship that the Alliance Took prov'd to be the Scarborough of 20 Guns

Editor's Note: The foregoing are copies of the entries or Remarks in "A Log Book for the Ship Bon Homme Richard, the Honorible John Paul Jones Commander begun at L'Orient Saturday, 8th of May 1779," of which a typewritten copy is in the Navy Department Library, and the original is supposed to be now in the possession of the Selkirk family at St. Mary's Isle.

Facsimiles of the three Remarks of the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of September are also in the Navy Department Library. The entries of the 22nd and 23rd are in the same handwriting, and of similar orthography, as are the preceding Remarks in that log. The handwriting of the Remarks on Friday the 24th is that of Lieut. Henry Lunt, who also wrote the Remarks on the same day in the Serapis' log book.

There are no entries in the column of Knots, F., Courses, Wind, for which the pages are ruled, for those days.

If this log was the regular Ship's Journal, it is remarkable that it should have been kept by a man whose handwriting and orthography were so bad as to be decipherable with difficulty. That the record of the transactions on the eventful 24th day of September on the Richard and Serapis and the following days should have been delegated to Lieutenant Lunt and Midshipman Groube seems to have been thought desirable by some one in authority.

APPENDIX B.

Copy of a Letter from Captain James Nicholson to Captain John Barry, Commanding U. S. Frigate Alliance.

Philada. June 24th 1781.—

Dr. Barry,

After congratulating you on your safe arrival and success, I shall without any apoligy relate to you what has been Transacting in this Quarter relative to rank for this week past, it still hangs over our head & requires every Exertion of Interest to prevent its taking place. The Attempt has been bold & Daring and is only equaled by the man who made it.

The Chevalier ever since his arrival in this City has devoted his time, privately, by making personal application to the Individual members of Congress to give him rank at the head of our Navy, and after Interesting (by being an accomplished Courtior), every member who was week, or of his own stamp in his favor, hands into Congress a Narritive of his services from the beginning of time containing the best part of a Quire of paper, and attended with a modest petition seting forth the injustice he had done him in the Establishment of rank and desire of redress &ca. This had the desired effect, and he had a Committee of Congress consistg. of Genl. Vernon, Mr. Mathews & Mr. Clymer appointed to enquire into his Claim and to make report, they accordingly did and in his favor. Congress was upon the point of taking the report up, and I have too much reason to believe woud have gratified the hight of his ambition had we not by the greatest accident discovered it, this was done by information a member of Congress gave Mrs. Reade in whose house he lived, he was also on the most familiar terms with myself, so far he had proceeded without the least suspisian on our side. As soon as I was informed of it, I immediately took my Hat and with very little Ceremony waited on the President of Congress at his house, & informed what I had heard, he received me politely & told me my suspisians was just, I therefore desired as my right that Congress might delay determining on it untill Cap. Reade & myself in behalf of ourselves & the absent brother officers equally concerned, should have an opportunity of being heard, which he promised me his Interest to have done, and that day Cap. Reade & myself threw in our remonstrance to Congress a Copy of mine you have Enclosed, the Consequence of which was the Committee was ordered to reconsider it and to give us notice to attend, we according did & found Cap. Jones without doors in conferance with two of them, Cap. Jones did not attend, I desired the Chairman would send for him, the reason I assigned was that I would say many things in his presence that I would not in his absence, he sent word that he would wait on us but never came, we found the President & Mr. Mathews predetermined in his favor, but Mr. Climer otherwise, after pointing out the absurdity of his claim which proceeded from a Brevial from Commodore Hopkins to the Command of the Sloop Providence were from his own claim, Capts. Whipple, Hallock, yourself, & Alexander where Capts. before him. I say after pointing out this to them, the Presidt. appeared to be convinced, but if so in reality I wont pretend to say. We had a good deal of conversation with the Committee, Mr. Mathews alone seemed his most strenious advocate and in my oppinion behaved obstinate & ungentiel. I said many things pretty severe of the Chevaliers private as well as Public Carrector too odious to mention and yet unnoticed, upon the whole we acquited ourselves well. It happened five days ago and they have not yet made their report. Should it be in his favor again, I have some reason to believe the honest part as well as those who had been imposed on from their ignorance about our Naval Transactions and the method of Establishing rank, are now sufficiently alarmed, and should the report be taken up at all, they will not determine in his favor. Your arrival & success came very opportunily and I did not fail to make use of it I mean outdoors in presence of Cap. Jones & some of his advocated Members, by observing that you had acquit yourself well, which they acknowledged. I then told them they could not do less than make you Admiral also. I had not a sentense of reply. it irritated the Chevalier so much that he was obliged to decamp. I yesterday was informed by a Member of Congress a friend of mine that they had received a letter from Bob Morris (The Financier) that he would undertake to Fitt out immediately my Ship & the 74 and if they agreed to it, there would be a necessity for appointing a Cap. to her immediately, and at the same time asked if I would accept of the Command of her. I refused but at the same time pointed out the necessity of the next Senior officer having the offer & so down, and in case none of them would accept untill it came to Chevalier that then he should have the offer he seemed convinced from the arguments I made use of of the Necessity of this mode as the only one that would give satisfaction and make our Navy of repute. How it will opperate with Congress I cant undertake to determine. I also let him understand that you was already appointed to her. I have very good reason to believe that Bob Morris' views are solely to serve him, but be that as it may, he has my consent, as I am convinced he will never get her to sea. It will suit his Vanity & only tend to expose himself and his friends in Congress.

I have now 120 men onbd., and as Bob Morris has undertaken to supply us with money expect to get to sea in a fortnight.

I now conclude with assuring you I remain Yrs most sincerely

Jas. Nicholson.

To His Excellency. the Presidt. & the Honble. the Members of the United States in Congress Assembled.

The Memorial of Jas. Nicholson, Cap. in the Navy of the United States Respectfully Shewith,

That your Memorialist has by accident been informed that the Chevalier Paul Jones hath Petitioned Congress & in consequence thereof a Committee has been appointed and are now actually siting for the Purpose of considering his claim of Prior Rank to your Memorialist, and as your Memorialist conceives any alteration in the rank of the Navy as at present established will be doing him a very sensible injury he begs leave to call the recollection of Congress to their resolves of the 17th Ap. & the 10th Ocbr. of 76 by the latter of which the rank of every Cap. or Commander in the Navy was established. Your Memorialist therefore prays that Congress will not deprive him of the rank he has always held in the Navy of the United States without a sufficient cause (which he presumes does not exist) as it will convey to the Public at large a suspisian that your Memorialist has forfeited that rank with which he has been so long honored by some misconduct. As your Memorialist has not been informed, certainly, upon what particular grounds Cap. Jones founds his Claims of Prior Rank, your Memorialist can only refer to the above mentioned Solemn Acts of Congress which sets forth the rank that Honble. body fixed for every Cap. & Commdr. in the Navy. Your MemorIt. has good reason to suppose it must be from his Early Service should that be the Case. Your Memorialist begs leave to observe what in his oppinion would be the Absurdity of Cap. Jones' claims viz; That two of your Memorists. Lieutts. now under his immediate Command onbd. the Trumbull would take the Commd. from your Memorits. & will every Capn. Lieutt. that where in the Commodrs. fleet.

If it is thought necessary or proper to call the Congress from their more Important business, your Memorits. has prepared and will furnish a history of his services as a Public Off. prior to the Establishment of rank, but he presumes that it is not necessary and depends upon the Justice & Candor of Congress. Your Memorilst. therefore begs leave to subscribe himself with profond respect & Esteem yr. Excellency, most obedt. Humble. Servt. &ca.

Jas. Nicholson

Editor's Note: Captain John Barry, to whom this letter was written, was then in command of the Alliance, lying in Boston Harbor. He had just returned from an eventful voyage to L'Orient, having taken Colonel John Laurens to France as Special Commissioner of the United States.

APPENDIX C.

Copy of Letter from Jones to Commodore Ezekiel Hopkins.

The Honble. E. Hopkins Esquire Admiral of the American Fleet Rhode Island. P the Brig Sea Nymph Capt. W. Hopkins.

Providence, at Sea in No Latd 37°. 40' and W. Longd. 54° Septr. 4th. 1776—

Honoured Sir

I know you will not suspect me of flattery when I affirm that I have not experienced a more sincere pleasure for a long time past than the account I have had of your having gained your cause at Philadelphia in spite of party.—Your late trouble will tend to your future advantage; by pointing out your friends & Enemies you will be thereby enabled to retain the one part while you guard against the other.——You will be thrice welcome to your Native Land and to your nearest concerns—after your late shock they will see you, as Gold from the Fire, of more worth and Value, and Slander will learn to keep silence when Admiral Hopkins is mentioned, but enough of this.

And now for my success—I sent in a Nantucket Whailer by Captn. Grinnele 27th. Ulto.—She appeared by the voluntary testimony of the master mate &ca to be the property of Rank Tories who had ordered their Oil to be Carried to the London Market and the amot. of it to be ship't out in English goods to Nantucket. Since that time I have been further to the Southward when I brought too a number of French Spanish & Danish Ships—but saw no Englishmen 'till the first Currt. when I fell in with five Sail—one of them being very large we took her to be either an Old East Indiaman or a Jamaica three Decker—but she proved to be an English Frigate Mounting twenty six Guns upon one Deck—She sailed fast and pursued us by the wind 'till after four hours Chase, the sea running Very Cross, she got within Musquit Shot of our Lee Quarter—as they had continued firing at us from the first without showing Colours I was angery at this low piece of Conduct therefore ordered ours to be hoisted and began to fire at them—they then hoisted American Colours and fired Guns to leeward—but the bait would not take for having everything prepared I bore away across his forefoot and set all our light sails at once so that before her sails were trimmed and Steering-sails set I was almost out of reach of Grape & soon after out of reach of Cannon Shot.—Our "Hairbreadth Scape" and the saucy manner of making it must have mortified him not a little—had he foreseen this motion and been prepared to counteract it he might have fired several Broadsides while we were within pistol shot—but he was a bad marksman and did not hit the Providence with one of the many shot which he fired.—I met with no other adventure 'till last night when I took the Brigantine Sea Nymph bound from Barbados for London with a Cargo of two hundred and twenty seven Hogsheads of Rum besides Oil Sugar Ginger and Madeira Wine—I understand by this Brig that the A. Doria is off Bermuda and that Captn. Weeks hath given a trimming to an English sloop of war off Martinico.—— I am too late for West Indiamen but will not yet give up hopes—I am much afraid that the Store Ships come out under Convoy for who would have expected to find a Frigate with no more than two Ships a Brig & a Sloop.

If I meet with further success I will write you in Course in the meantime I rest assured that your good offices will not be wanting in my favour when the Navy Rank and Seniority comes to be Settled—if I was worthy of the Rank of Eldest Lieutenant of the Fleet I deserve not to be superseded in favour of any person who then bore an inferior or Juniour Commission.

It will be good policy if the Congress or Marine Committee fix the Parity of Rank between land and sea Officers as it is on the English Establishment Vizt. An Admiral ranks with a General a Vice Adml with a Lieun. Genl. a Rear Adml. with a Major Genl. a Commodore with with a Brigadeer Genl. a Captain with a Colonel a Master & Commander with a Lieut. Colo, a Lieut. Commanding with a Major & a Lieutenant in the Navy with a Captain of Foot or Marines—this would prevent numberless disputes and deuelings which otherwise will be unavoidable—but I remember that this agrees with your own opinion and therefore I need use no argument to enforce it.—my best wishes and respects await yourself and Family and I am with much Esteem and grateful Respect

Honoured Sir

Your very Obliged and most humble Servt. Jno. P. Jones

Editor's Note: In a letter to Mr. Hewes, dated January 12, 1777, Jones, in speaking of Hopkins, writes of the latter calling himself a Commodore, "this Commodore is altogether unfit to command a Frigate of thirty-two Guns." See Calendar of Jones Manuscripts, Library of Congress, pp. 15-16, 20-22.

APPENDIX D.

Copy of Letter Addressed by Jones to John Wendell, Esqr., Portsmouth, N. H.

Ranger, Nantes 11th Decr. 1777.

My dear Sir,

The Ranger was wafted by the Pinions of the gentlest, and most friendly Gales, along the Surface of the Blue profound of Neptune; and not the swelling bosom of a Friend's nor even of an Enemis Sail, appeared within our placid Horizon, untill after we had passed the Everlasting Mountains of the Sea, (called Azores) whoe's Tops are in the Cloud's, and whoe's Foundations are in the Center. When lo! this Italeyon Season was interrupted! the "gathering Fleets o'erspread the Sea" and Wars alarms began! nor ceased day or night untill, aided by the mighty Boreus, we cast anchor in this Asylum the 2d Currt. but since I am not certain that my Poetry will be understood, it may not be amiss to add, by way of marginal note, that after leaving Portsmouth nothing remarkable happened untill I got to the Eastward of the Western Islands; and that from that time untill my arrival here, I fell in with Ships every day sometimes every Hour; within Eighty Leagues of Ushant, I met with an Enemies fleet of Ten Sail bound up Channel, but notwithstanding my best endeavours, I was unable to detach any of them from the strong Convoy under which they sailed, I met with and brought too a variety of other Ships, none whereof proved British Property, except two Brigantines from Malaga with Fruit for London, which became Prizes, the one is arrived here, the other I am told in Quiberon Bay; as I have met with and brought too several Ships in the Night, I had the most agreeable Proofs of the Active Spirit of my Officers and Men.

I have forwarded my dispatches to Paris, by Express, and determine not to go myself unless I am sent for. I understand that in Obedience to Orders from the Secret Committee the Commissioners had, some time ago, provided One of the finest Frigates for me that can be imagined, calculated for Thirty-two, Twenty four Pounders, on one deck, and longer than any Ship in the Enemies Fleet; but that it has been found necessary to give her up, on account of some difficulties which they have met with at Court. My Heart glows with the most fervent Gratitude for this, and every other unsolicited and unexpected instance of the favo'r and Approbation of Congress; and if a Life of Services devoted to the Interests of America, can be made Instrumental in securing its Independance; I shall be the happiest of Men, and regard the continuance of such Approbation, as an Honor far superiour to the empty Peagantry, which Kings ever had Power to bestow.

I esteem your Son as a promising and deserving young Man, I have just now had some Conversation with him, and am much Pleased with his diffidence and Modesty, he would not he says accept of a Commission untill he thinks himself equal to the duty of the office of Lieutenant; there I think he shows a true Spirit; in the mean time, he tells me that he is perfectly satisfy'd with his present Situation, anything within my Power to render his Situation happy and Instructive, shall not be wanting.

I must rely on you to make my best Compliments receptable to the fair Miss Wendell, and to the other agreeable Ladies of my acquaintance in Portsmouth. The Captain of the Raleigh I understand is well, and has lately been figuring it away at Paris, whereof please to acquaint my Sister Officer. I should be exceedingly happy to hear from you, but as my destination depends on what I am to hear from the Commissioners, I cannot at Present give you my Address, but will drop you another, How do you do, shortly.

I am with Sentiments of Respect & Regard,

My dear Sir,

Your Obliged, very Obedient, most humble Servant, jno. P. Jones

John Wendell, Esqr. Portsmouth——

Editor's Note: In the Calendar of Jones Manuscripts in the Library of Congress, pp. 31-32, are several letters from John Wendell to Jones dated Oct., 1777. Mr. Wendell was a merchant and Justice of the Peace at Portsmouth, N. H.

APPENDIX E.

Fanning's Account of an Entertainment Given by Jones on the Ariel. Possibly the date is wrong. It may be that recorded in the Ariel's log on "September 2nd. 1780——"

APPENDIX F.

The Continuation and End of the Voyage of the Ariel to the United States.

As the Journal of the Ariel ends on the 14th day of October, 1780, a brief account of her voyage to the United States, gathered from the Biographies of Jones, may not be out of place.

Jones continued to prolong his stay at L'Orient more than two months from the time of his putting back dismasted, and again received the remonstrances of Franklin for the expenses incurred in the refitting of the ship.

The arms destined for our army were so much damaged that they were discharged and abandoned. During this period of delay, Jones was much of his time in Paris, and beguiled his time in giving elegant entertainments on his ship, one of which is recorded in the log on the 2d day of September; the one given on or about the 10th of December is described by Fanning, Appendix E. Fanning left the Ariel immediately after this entertainment, and soon after took command of the privateer Eclipse, sailing out of Dunkirk.

The Ariel sailed from L'Orient on the 18th of December, bound for Philadelphia, and had an eventful voyage. Owing to the lumbered condition of his ship, Jones was not particularly anxious to meet the enemies' cruisers. A conspiracy was discovered amongst the English part of the crew, to take the ship, to defeat which the officers and passengers prepared to defend themselves. Jones followed an unfrequented track, taking the southern passage along the edge of the trade winds. When in latitude 26°, near the meridian of Barbados, a large sail was discovered, apparently a cruiser, from which Jones endeavored to escape, but failed. The ships came close alongside, both displaying English colors. A conversation ensued, and the stranger proved to be a British ship named Triumph. A sharp action took place within pistol shot, when the Triumph struck her colors, and cried for quarter, but the Triumph, having got on the weather bow of the Ariel, made all sail and escaped. The Triumph was undoubtedly a privateer, not a King's ship. After this action, twenty of the ringleaders in the plot to get possession of the ship were identified, and put in irons. No further incidents of note occurred, and the Arielreached Philadelphia on the 18th of February, 1781.

APPENDIX G.

Fanning's Account of the Storm which Wrecked the Ariel.

APPENDIX H.

Fanning's Account of the Taking Possession of the Alliance by Landais.

Great alterations were now made by the carpenters on board of the Alliance frigate in almost every part of the ship, which put the United States to a vast and unnecessary expence. However, Jones was no so well suited with the command of her that he would have everything done and altered to please his fancy on board of her; not I presume, regarding what it cost, only as a secondary consideration. The Alliance was however ready for sea by the middle of June, 1780, and only waited for a wind to proceed to America.