Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-08-02
VOL. U.-NO. 81.

u MS ceSgn and moi only succeeded III the principal
OBJECT but captured prizes. On his aye back
TO Boston, accompanied by one of his prizes he ar,jn
fell in with the Milford. BY his sslful manruvres h.
saved his prize, and had another long engagement will,
his old antagonist, which was terminated by gale
In i776, Captain Nicholas Bidde was appointed IN
the Randolph, of thirty two guns. He stood in the
foremost rank OF his profession for seamansp and con-
rage. He sailed next year on cruise, after having
made many important captures. In March, I773 he
fell IN with the Yarmouth, British sixty-four gun shin
As they did not approach each other till the close of dv
II probable that her force distinctly ascertain
ed by the Randolph, before the action commenced =
Captan Bidde, however. ranged alongside with a res.
olue fearessness, determined engage her wlatevec
might be her force severe conflict began after darl
IN the early part of which, Captain Bdde is said 10 have
oeen wounded Unable TO stand he had chair BROUGHT
on deck, and continued to animate his by his pre.
sence' After sustaining this unequal fight for about
twenty minutes, the Randolph blew up involving in
awful and lnstant aneous destruction her gallant com,
mahder and all her valiant crew, excepting four men,
who were discovered four days afterwards by the Var
mouth, floating upon piece of the wreck Captain
iudie was but twenty years of age when he way
mus abruptly cut off from his friends and his country
But his name would still have been gratefully reme
oered, even If later war; had not revived IT. en- the
same element, in all its early glory
During the same year 1878, Captain Daniel Waters
who had become distinguished for his nautical skill and
ACTIVITY took command of the privateer Thorn sixteen
guns Not many days after leaving port he discover
cd TWO sail IN pursuit of him. They proved to be the
ErskIne, eighteen guns. The unequal combat began
ana was Kept up for two hours, when the Trvon strnc,
aud the Erskine drew off. After repairing DAMAGES
captain Waters, leaving the Tryon complete wreck
pursued the ETskIne, and, coming up with her con
PEELED her likewise to strike. Removing her of6cers
on board the Thorn he returned search of his other
Pze out where he expected to meet her. he found ONLY
oaug pars and casks, and other indications tna she
hau suns Captain Waters then manned the Erskine
and ordered her TO Boston retaining on bsardhe Thorn
only sixty men. with which diminished crew he wac "a
run new hazards and acquire new laurels For rot
many days subsequently, he encountered the Snarl,p
eighteen guns and niney-seven men, and after an nc
ton OF about hour obliged her to Weld TO his tbri
cOnQuering lag.
The following extract, from Clarl1e's Naval History
eAoits striking instance the shrewd daring of our
early seainen, and their aptitude TO convert unluckv
circumstances INTO means OF triumph
June 1873, expedition of United States vessels
was htted out and sailed from Boston. 1t consisted NJ
The Providence thirty-two guns, Commodore Whippe.
me eSneen OF France, twenty eight guns CAPTAIN J
+. Rathburne; and the sloop Of war Ranger Captain
SIMPSON About the middle of July, near the banks
oil Newfoundland, as the squadron lay in fog srnaI
guns were heard and at intervals the sound - ms,
bells striking the hours From this they supposed them
selves to be fleet About = o'clock tl,e c,o- b
gan 10 clear OIL when the of the Queen of France
10 their great surprise found themselves nearly aIong
sue OF large merchant ship, and after they per-
ceiVed themselves TO be in fleet of $50 sail under
convoy OF seventy-four, and several frigates and
down to the large ship, and hailed her. Size answered
mat the fleet was from Jamaica bound TO Iordon
he English ship then hailed the Amcrican and was
answered, his majesty's ship Arethusa from Halifax
on cruise. The American then inquired if the,, lad
seen any rebel privateers. The Englih renlied b,t
several had been driven out of the fleet The A.
mercah Captain Rahburne then requested the can
tam OF Tie English vessel to come CD board which lie
u' when TO his great astoniohment he found himself
prisoner Capt. Rahburnc then sent one Of his own
ooais and the English captains boat both well manned
10 the snip. of which they took quiet possession with
out exciting the least alarm in the feet notyithstand
ing many OF the vessels nearly in hail of the one
captured Rathburnc then went alongside another
large snip and captured her in the same manner Soon
alter the capture OF the second ship Commodore Win
pie came alongside. and ordered Capt. Rathburne n
edge away out of the fleet as soon as possible rs no
was persuaded they would be discovered and oyerpo
cred. captain Rathhurne then pointed ont the two
The best account of Paul Jones' which has ammo arI
Is contained IN the Edinburgh Encyclopedia 1t was ,,it
Ten oy the Rev Mr. Duncan, Dumfries in Scotland
VINO was acquainted with the connexions of Paul Iorcs
ana mad access to all his papers The following extract
rea'eS TO his FIRST entering into the American service
In the year 175 he went Virginia to arrange the az
lars OF his brother, who had de there without Ieaviny
any family and about this time, in addition to his oripnai
surname his original name John Paul he assumed tho
pauonymc OF Jones, his fathers christian name ba,i,,