Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-08-31
GuuprrisG larksbllra Rrgtaipr
LECTURE ON PAUL JONES.

tuS III NSW u otks Ou the lilc anu ca
reer of Paul Jones'" There was large
number Of ladies and gentlemen present.
and the speaker was frequently enthusi-
astically applauded.
He said Paul Jones until very lately
suffered much atthe hands photographers,
by English writer's especially. who were
quite energetic in their attempts to take
his life. In the school books in common
use in the British islands. he is represen-
ted, or rather misrepresented, as dar-
ing reckless freebooter. a bold adventur-
er. whose only motives were self-aggran-
dizement, and natural love for danger.
Theprinted epistles and dispatches Of Paul
Jones, fully sustain the character for de-
cision he won on the ocean. He was born
to be a hero. and had he not been naval
hero. he had in him qualities which would
have made him-had he followed out his
quandam idea of study and refinement
leading man in literature.
Paul Jones was born in Abigland. Par
ish of Kirkbean; and Stewartry Of Kirk
oudbright, Scotland. July, l747, and
was the son of gardner and the ruid-
ments of his education, such as II was.
were received at the Parochial School
At the age of 1s. he crossed the FIRTH to
White Haven, and was appreuticed to a
Mr.. Younger, a merchant in the Ameri-
can trade, In 1878 he adopted this coun-
try as his future home. and on the e2d
of December. 1875. was appointed first
Lieut.. OF the Alfred" and on board
that vessel. before Philadelphia, hoisted
the flag of independent America with his
own hands, the first time il was ever dis
played. On the 18th of February, 1776,
the fleet consisting of the Alfred, Colum-
bus, Andrew Doria. and Cabot, put 10 sea,
under the command of Ezekiel Hopkins.
On the 9Th of April, they fell in with the
GLASGOW man-of-War, an engagement with
which proved disastrous to the little squad
ron. This was mainly owing to the want
of discipline. The navy of America had
Just been ushered into life. and consequent
ty was in very disorganized state. That
discipline, obedience and machine mind SO
necessary to the public working of such
an engine, was not only imperfect, but
scarcely existed the lines of distinct ae-
ton between officers and scanned not COM
pletely settled or understood. He made
many valuable suggestions relative to i'm
provements in the navy, through his
friends, to Congress all his hints and
requests were brought up in Congress
in the shape of resolutions.
His suggestions at this time, touching
as they did all questions of interest to the
Navy. are the foundation of our sea SER
vice. He is the father of the American
Navy. Jones, Lieutenant in command of
che sloop- of-war Providence, is on the sea
on the 4'h of September, 1776, and in one
month and three days sixteen red flags
of st. George futtered their last for the
veal of 50 Merrie" England. On the 10Th
of December he arrived at Boston, after
destroying Il transport at Isle Royal, and
burning the whale and goldfish buildings
there. He brought with him five prizes
including priyateerof sixteen guns. "a yes-
sci laden with furs, and the armed ship
Melish. having on board ten thousand
suits of uniform, and company of British
soldiers. This very timely prize tended
to reanimate the spirits of Washington's
army. Jones was now fast winning the
confidence and good opinion of Congress.
In I777 he was appointed to the Ranger,
with unlimited authority. Capt. Paul
Jones was the first to carry to Europe the
national Stars and Stripes. The speaker
then referred to Jones' expedition to Eu-
rope. and described the various engage
ments in which he took part, until he was
invested with the chief command of the
American squadron in Europe. 1t would
far outstrip my allotted time to follow the
career of Commodore Jones in the Anne
rican, French and Russian navies. My
chief object has not been so much to chron
iole his bravery, as to show that he bore
the commission of Congress in all his en-
terprises. More i: that be enjoyed its con-
6dence, and deservedly merited the same.
Jones returned to the United States in
1880, bearing letters of appreciation of his
actions, from Franklin. who strenuously
supported him while in Europe. His lat
ter days we're spentin Holland and France,
and on the 18th of September. 1899, he
died at Paris. His funeral was attended
by deputation of the National Assem-
bly, and an eloquent Grafton was pronoun-
ced over his tomb by NJ. Marion. Paul
Jones's passion was glory his devotion
to America was uudoubted. He was CHI
Various, and regarded his honor as most
sacred he had fund of humor. much
sarcasm, and poetic ability of not d mean
order. He was courteous to fault, at
tue San6 LlEa6 LIlhL ne was d tcIEOT OI Tue
western coast of Britain, (Which thought
him a monster. he was most humane.
Born to be a leader, circumstances made
him benefactor; although he lived to
fight. he did not fight to live. Naturally
gifted with comprehensive understan-
ding. he matured 1T by study. first by
books, and afterwards by observation
Such was Jones a man of few foibles and
many virtues, who never injured friend
or abandoned an enemy till death parted
them and swept finally into the tomb. the
hero and the " piraticar' father of the Ma