The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-13


| claimed, 81 am dead man, but do not give up, ana
you will beat them all % Inspired by his dying
words his officers and continued the fight until
they disabled several Of the boats, and compelled
them all 10 retreat.
In December, l775, Congress ordered the building
Of 10 armed vessels, and before the end Of the year
five vessels were finished and Differed. Capt. Hop
kins, OF Rhode Island, placed in the chief com
mand This was the first regular American Navy
Ate an absence of few months spent in cruising on
the southern coast the fleet returned 10 New London
with a few prizes. Disappointed in their expecta-
lions, Congress passed vote Of censure upon Com.
Hopkins.
The American Navy lost cast by this operation
but It's reputation was afterwards redeemed by the
operations upon Lake Champaign AFTER consider
able delay and much difficulty, sixteen vessels were
gotten together by the Americans, and placed under
the command of Capt, Arnold The British force
which they had 10 contend with, was nearly double
their number, and superior also in equipments. Al
though Capt Arnold not successful in the engage
ments which followed and finally ovcrpowered by
the force of superior numbers he displayed great gal
lantry and seamanship.
In April l77G, Congress authorized the fitting out
OF pTvaieers. There was al no time vessel IN the
service carrying 80 guns. About this time, Con-
gress ordered three seventy tours To be built but one
only was completed just at the close of the war and
that was presented 10 the French King IN indemnlf-
cation for French vessel lost in the service During
the third year of the navy was in its most
prosperous condition, numbering 100 vessels Of
and privaieers. Notwithstanding IT. smallness IN
number and armament, compared with the gigantic
maritime power of EngIand the American Navy cruis-
ed in every where the English trade was carried
even to the African coast and seized upon immense
amount of property. The Americans as might be
supposed, suffered much loss in these cruises but
the balance OF captures made at sea were IN favor OF
the gallant American Navy.
Mr.. Sparks, in paying beautiful tribute TO the
naval officers of the Revolution and noticing some
q fine liant exp of Rlrnpy
er, Thompson, Whipple, Rathbone, Matters, Williams
Manly, Cunningham, and Others during the war, re-
marked that the most successful and most fortunate
OF the commanders Of the Revolutionary navy, was
Paul Jones, native Of Scotiand-son of gardener;
but who early conceived deyotedness for the
He had received an excellent education Some
time before the Revolution, he came to Virginia
a visit to "A brother who resided in that State. At
ter the death Of his brother he returned to settle the
estate Of the deceased relative Paul Jones served
at The head of the Lieutenants under Commodore
HOPKINS, and it is said that with his own hand he
raised for the first time the colonial flag on board the
Alfred. When he returned from Hopkins III iated
expedition, he was appointed to the Providence of
l2J guns, and sent cruise. He attacked every
thing he met and had several engagements with
pcrior vessels He returned to Rhode Island after
cruise of seven weeks with sixteen prizes. When
the navy was enlarged in October, l776 he was
commissioned captain, and made another cruise
as successful as the former.
TN Tie l4tll oil June, liII, III was resolved Dy
Congress- that the flag of the Thirteen United States
should bear thirteen stripes alternate red and white,
with thirteen stars white, on blue field, represent
ing constellation, which is our present flag.
Just at this time Paul Jones sailed in the Ranger"
from Plymouth, with dispatches to France: This
the first vessel that entered foreign port with
the American flag, and as such received naval sa-
lutte, which was given the Granger" as she entered
the harbor of Brest After delivering his despatch
es, Jones made descent on the English coast, at
Whitehaven lie landed in person-spiked the can
non in the gairson-and intended to burn the ship
ping, but his orders not being well obeyed, he was
only partially successful The country, however,
thrown into the greatest consernation and great
numbers of volunteers focked to the coast if they
were called to repe an invading army. He after
wards fell in with Drake, commanding ship with
two guns than his own vessel, and after gal
liant action captured her. He returned with his
prize to lrcst. At this time descent on the Bri-
fish coast was contemplated by France, and the
val port Of the expedition entrusted to Jones'
the land port being under lafayette This, how
ever was not carried into execution. Jones put
in command of the lie Bonnie Homme Richard, SO
named in honor of the 'Poor Richard Of DIR. Frank
fin,so much aidistnguished man esteemed then
then. This vessel carried 40 guns, and in command
of her, and in company with four smaller vessels,
all bearing the American flag, Jones set out on
cruise the object of which was, as set forth in the
instructions, which given by Dr. Franklin, then
at Paris, as the American Minister to France, to in
tercept fleet OF British merchantmen returning, UNI
der convoy, from the Baltic
Jones missed the fleet, but made descent the
eastern coast of Scotland, creating much alarm
he had previously done at Whehaven. At this time
he fell in with the Scraps and Countess of Scarbo
rough and Immediately engaged the Scraps, running
his vessel alongside and with his own hands fixing
the graphing irons. The rigging OF the vessels be-
came entanged, and in short time both vessels be-
locked together. In this condition the battle
ragged for nearly four hours, both vessels being seve
raj times fire. Al last the Scraps struck her
lors. This is allowed on all hands to be the most
bloody and well contested naval action record
Jones received assistance from his other vessels
The Alliance, indeed, came up and fired few broad
sides but they fell chiefly Jones own vessel The
Paas attacked and captured the Countess OF Scarbo-
rough Jones vessel sunk in few moments after he
left her and took possession of the Scraps With his
two prizes he sailed to the Texel, in Holland, and
from thence 10 France. He was at this time thirty
two years old the French King presented to him the
order of the Legion of Honor. The King of Eng
Ian ! knighted Captain Pearson, the commander of
the Scraps; and hearing this, Jones said, Well,
he deserved it; next time fall in with him, ! will
make him Lord" When Jones returned to Amer
lea, he was made commander of the seventy. four
which was afterwards given to the King of France
The lecturer remarked that Captain Barney, who
was wounded during the late war at the battle of Ba-
dcnsburg in many respects resembled Paul Jones' In
April, 1902, lac put in command Of the Hydcr
Ally, OF 10 guns, IN her he engaged and captured
the General Monk, with 20 guns.
The affairs of the Navy were conducted by two
committees, which in course OF time merged into
one called the Board of Admiralty consisting Of
five commissioners, three of whom were moi members
Of Congress In January, 1871, this, too,
PEELED in consequence Of its ineficiency, give way
for another system. They established Department
of Foreign Affairs at the head Of which placed
Robert Morris, who discharged It's duties, in
on with those of finance, during the After The
Rcvolut on, all the vessels sold and for nine
years after the close Of the war, the Union had no
naval force whatever. The depr daons Of pratca
cruisers upon commerce, at length rendered the
cstabshm, mt of strong naval toice necessary, and
the foundation was then laid Of our gallant and glo
rous marine which destined, at distant day, 10
render the Union mistress OF the
PARry.--Wc need never expect, in our land, to be
free from the agitation Of parties Nor ought we
to wish it. That agitation when kept within right
bounds, is always healthiul giving vigor TO the bo