Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-24
YoHN PAUL JONES.

=
La FAYETrE, then in France, short
time after the memorable engagement
between the Bon Homme Richard and
the Scraps, off Marlborough Head, on
the night of the esd of September, 1899.
1t was written by him, who, about the
same time, was denounced, in the re-
clamation of Sir Joseph Yorke, the En-
elish Minister at the Hague, as "pi-
rate" and "rebel." Nat. Intel.
con board of the Bon Homme Richards
prize, the ship of war Scraps, at the
Texel, October %, 1899.
GA thousand thanks to my loved and
noble friend for the very kind and at
fectionate letter he did me the honor OF
writing to me from the Havre, and
which greatly rewards me for the dan
gers which / have overcome. Words
are wanting to express how much es-
TEEN, how highly l value, and how
much L wish to merit, the friendship
and affection of the American General
lie Marquis de La Fayette.
81 am very much concerned and a.
shamed to understand that my num-
bers,' which you received from Lori.
ent, were SO lily composed. tits a proof
that their Ladyships, the Muses., how
ever condescending they may be on the
banks of the Heilicon, will not dispense
their favors to the sons of Neptune, es-
pecially while they are
BY bounding pillows, Crude winds that blow.
Alternate toss'd in air, or sunk to sands below.
"In truth, my dear General, l am
almost as sorry that you have not been
able to understand my meaning, as i'll
had been addressing myself to-a fair
lady. The enclosed key will, however,
unlock the past difficulty, and enable
you fully to see what / SO much wish
you to understand. I will send you,
very soon, little work which shall be
better finished than that from L'Orient;
and, in the mean time, a machine, to
which the present key is adopted, is
forwarded through the hands Of Doct.
Bancroft, in case you should nave spoil
ed or thrown away the one formerly sent.
"The late brutalities of the Britons,
in America, fill me with horror and
indignation. They forget that they
re men; and believe nothing will
bring them to their senses but the
most exemplary retaliation.
Dandais is ordered to Paris, to an
swer for his past conduct.
81 wish to answer, very particularly,
the three points which you have pro-
pounded:
T" LIST. never meant to ask reward
for my services, either from France or
America; consequently, the approba-
ton Of the Court and ofthe Congress,
is all the qualification that l can wish
for.
GOD. / yet intend to undertake what
ever the utmost exertion of my abilities
will reach, in support Of the common
cause, as far as the force that shall in
future be entrusted to my direction may
enable me to succeed. I hope, how
ever, my future force will be better
composed than when | sailed from
L'Orient.) | must sail from the Tex
ell in the course of the next month, be-
cause ships cannot afterwards remain
in this road. My destination or route
from hence, | yet know not, but | need
not tell you that l wish to see your
face.
" Sd. 1t is now in vain to say what
might have been done two years ago,
with the force you mention; but, l be-
lieve, i property supported at sea, such
force might yet perform very essential
service. There is no guarding, you
know, against storms, and one would
wish either to avoid or to out-sail
superior sea force. ASH believe you
know my way of thinking upon such
subjects, shall offer you no argu-
ment. know you want no prompter.
"I beg Capt. Ricot's pardon, for hav-
ing said, in the extract of my Journal,
that, in the engagement with the Sc
rapis, he prevented my officers and
men, in the pilot boat, from coming to
my assistance. | now find that this did
not happen till the pilot boat had re-
turned to the Vengeance, about the
middle of the action, without having
boarded the Bon Homme Richard, ac-
cordins to Captain Ricot's orders. l
was little vexed, too, that Captain Ri
cot did not come OH board the Bon
Homme Richard, the next day, to offer
me his assistance, when was in the
greatest imaginable distress, and the
signal was Aying. But these are tri-
fles. And I am much more obliged
to him for not firing, than to Landais
for killing my men and sinking my
ship. Upon the whole. Captain Ricot
has acted as became sensible, prudent
officer, and is a man with whom l
wish to be further connected. At
Leith, he was destined to cover the de-
scent, and am fully convinced that he
would have executed it with great hon
or to himself, had not the gale Of wind,