The New York herald., 1868-03-08


everywhere in France and Holland there beat re-
sponsve hearts in eulogy Of the brilliant achieve
ments OF Paul Jona. But the crowning laurels OF
his life were reserved to be gathered on the bloody
deck OF the Bon Holme Richard. No man was bet
ter qualified for TIP special service for which this
vessel was equipped than Jones, for he knew every
indentation and pocket OF the coast Of the British
kingdom. 1t Is recorded Of him that one occasion
ne appeared Off the northern shores Of Scotland with
his little eet with the view to capture the town Of
Leith and lay the Inhabitants under heavy contri-
button for the wrongs that had been inflicted upon
his adopted countymen. The same authority in
forms US that when his vessels were discovered from
Edinburg castle the utmost CONSERVATION prevailed
among the people, who betook themselves to prayer
to escape the impending danger. At Kirkcaldy the
old Scotch minister flung himself upon his knees
among terrified group of his rustic parshoners and
prayed thus for deverance:-
nNow, deer Laird, dinna Ye think 1t shame for
Ye send this vile pre to rob folk o. Krkcaldy
for Ye ken they're poor enow already and hae naeth
ing to spare. The wa the wind blaws he'll be here
in a jinhe, and wha kens what he may dor He's nae
too guid for Onything. Mickle's the mischief he's
dune already. He'll burn their hooses, take their
very caes, and trl them to the sark; and waes me
Wha kens but the bludy villain may tax their lives
The puir weemen are mast frighted out o. their WITS
and the BARNS skrling after them Gamma tholt 1t |
Gamma thol't it hae been lang faithful servant
to Ye Laird; but gin Ye dinna turn the ween abo0t
and baw the scoundre out o. our gate, I'll ma staur
it, but will just sit here till the tide comes. Sae
take yere wull OFT"
And the "ween" did come In the shape OF O gale
that compelled an abandonment Of the project
THE BON HOMME RICHARD.
AS long as history shall chronicle the deeds OF he
roc men, so long it will continue to preserve upon
its brightest pages the record OF the fearful contest
between the Bon Homme Richard and the Sera-
ps on the night Of the 23d Of September, 1779. AS
battle between single ships it has parallel what
ever in the naval history Of the world and the con-
duct OF Paul Jones In that engagement stamps him as
one among its greatest leaders, In that ghastly
scene Of manged and dying men-amd the thunder
of BATTLE the cry of fire. the crash OF falling spars and
the deadly shots Of the treacherous Landais-Paul
Jones stood that dark night, with camness and un-
ninching courage upon the deck OF his shattered
and laundering ship the embodiment and personif-
cation of a hero
The protracted character OF this remarkable strug-
gle the endurance of the combaants, the anomalous
position Of the two ships the closeness of the
gagement and the severity Of the punishment given
and received, have been favorite theme among
naval men OF all nations; and impartial history con-
cedes that the tide of battle turned solely by the
efficiency of the topmen and sharpshooters Of the
Richard and the tenacious courage Of Jones and his
faithful first lieutenant, Dale.
On JONES' arrival in France after this celebrated
victory the enthusiasm OF the French Court was
boundlek, and he was presented with magnificent
sword by Louis XVI, bearing this inscription
"vindicah maris Ludovcus XVI, remuneration
strenuo vindic.l At later period, on his return to
the United States, Commodore Jones received
fha rfpicf
Order Of Merit. Congress voted him its thanks and
o gold medal; and from this time forward practl-
cally his connection with the American navy was at
an end But he left to 1t the rich legacy Of his glo
rious example and an imperishable fame After the
close OF the Revolutionary war Paul Jones visited
Europe, and he was induced by the Empress Catha-
rine to enter the imperial navy of Russia with the
rank Of rear admiral. He was placed in
command OF the feet in the attack on
Oczakow, and with dauntess courage he
dashed into the midst Of the Turkish gallies
and scattered them TO the Winds For this
act Of vaor he was decorated with the order Of st.
Anne, and presented with gold sword and the
gratuity of years pension Not long after he re-
tired to Paris, where he died July1s, 1902 To the
disgrace of the American nation, the dust OF this
great is mingled forever with the clods OF the
cemetery for the poor in the French capital, and to-
day his place OF seputure in unmarked and un-
known.
THE EVOLUTIONARY NAVY.
From the first organization OF the navy down to
the close Of the year 1928 the progress Of It's i'm
provements was slow and spasmodic, owing to the
temporzing policy OF Congress, the want OF finances
and the Indifferent character OF the ordnance with
which the vessels were supplied. Prodi2ies OF
valor had been performed, and the history OF the
times was repete with deeds of daring, but most OF
the conbats had been between single ships The
~ used a neither S1
minated in q hand to hand encounter with an In
discriminate use OF bar and chain shot, hand
grenades, blunderbusses, fire balls and "st!nk
pots'-a class of missiles, by the by, that
have long since been stricken from the
roll OF ordnance supplies in the navy.
the vessels, with single stick spars, cumbersome
rigging. hemp cables, imperfect charts and Ill
assorted crews, to say nothing OF models OF the most
Indifferent design, the results obtained by the Ame-
rican navy at this distant day almost Incredible.
During tile Revolutionary war upwards OF $50 Eng
lish merchant ships were brought into port, mde-
pendent OF those ransomed or destroyed at sea. And
yet to form an idea Of the way in which war vessels
were then constructed we may cite the case OF the
John Adams, which was built by contract-one man
building one side Of the ship and another the oppo-
site. The consequence was, the vessel had several
inches more beam side than on the other, and
of course she not only steered badly, but there
marked difference In her sailing qualities on each
tack.
THE WAR WITH FRANCE.
From 1929 to 1901 was productive Of far more en-
during consequences TO the navy. by developing n
better class OF vessels, more reliable crews many
improvements In gunncry and equipments and q
nlgner stanuaTu OI eIiCieHCy anu uSclplHe U1lucr
the law OF 1893 Benjamin Stoddart appointed the
first Secretary OF the Navy, and at that time 1t
sisted OF twenty-five vessels, mounting 470 guns
To these In 1899 were added eleven more, armed with
262 guns. In $500 the navy was further augmented
by five frgates sloop and one brig, carrying 2S
guns 1t Is curious TO note during this year s00l In
contrast with the startling expenditures Of our own
day. that the total appropriation Tor the navy and
marine corps was but 81, ,953.
The vessels rating twenty-four and twenty guns
were old-fashioned sloops-of-war with gun decks
like the English "jackass frgatesn or the French
corvettes and were armed with long mines and sxes
In 1901 the carronade was introduced into the navy
and many improvements in naval architecture were
borrowed from the French and the Neapolitans
The most brilliant feature In this short and irregular
contest with France was the action between the Con-
stellaton and the frigate Insurgente; end although
the war Itself barren OF political results 1t added
many to the list OF naval heroes and gave the
navy prestige which 1t has never lost In every
engagement with the French the navy was success
ful. But this from no superiority In the arina-
na.,na 4, ~ P ~ saas ..a. 4. .anAsn. 90