New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-02
INCIDENTS oFTHE REVOLUTION
PAUL JONES'S ATTEMPT TO CARRY OFF
THE EARL OF SELKIRK.

which tells the story OF thc lour Neehs Ciui'0 VI
John Paul Jones with the frigate Ranger, IN the
Irish Channel in the spring of l77S. Inc Hanger
was an eighteen-gun sloOp crank slow, and OF snch
poor repute that she not thought good enough
for so able a commander, while her subordinate
officers seem to have been an indifferent lot. she
had n gallant Yankee crew, however and was so
brilliantly handled by her dashing captain that ior
nearly month she alone spread CONSERVATION
along the English, Scottish and lrlsh coasts
Joness success was owing in great degree 10 us
audacity. He ventured into the landlOcked waters
of his enemy fought, as Cooper says with halter
around his neck, hestated at no enterprise however
RASH and never shirked an engagement lie cap
tured the Drake sOop of war, after short hGht Oh
equal terms and having made other prizes ana doho
a variety of mischief at Whitehaven and elsewhere
he sailed safely away by the North Channel. 1t Is
said that the Ranger the first man-of-war 10
show the stars and stripes the present National en-
sign having been adopted by Congress on the very
dav that Jones was ordered TO the frgate.
Perhaps there is no exploit of this famous cruise
which has been more widely celebrated than tho
descent upon the cOuntry-seat OF tho Ear VI
Selkirk at ST. Marys ISLE on the Scotch sac ol SUI
way Firth. This was rear JoneSs birthplace MS
father John Paul. having been gardener Oh Uno
neipbborinC estate of Mr.. CIaik, OF ArDglahu' INC
object of the expedition was 10 seize Lord SeikrK'
il being supposed that prisoner OF MS rank mlght
he usefnl in affecting the treatment of American
prisoners in the hands of the British Jones Went
ashore with single boats crew, but learning that
the Earl was absent he was about to retire when
his men demonstrated. After some discussion he
allowed them to 90 to the house and ask for plate
Two iuuor officers were With them Lady Selklrk
received the officers the men remaining outslde'
and surrendered about f100 worth of plate, upon
which the party Withdrew without doing any fur-
thcr HARM A few days later Jones wrote the fol-
lowing letter to Lady Selkirk:
JOHN PAUL JONES TO THE COUNTESS OF sELKlRh'
aRANGER." Brest, sth May, 1878,
MADAM 1t cannot be too much amenlGd tna! sng
Feasibility should be under the necessity Of wnkhg
any action OF persons Teecon doHby severe when
he finds himself obliged, in appearance, 10 eOuhtehhce
hi hard case was mine when, the 23d of April
last landed on St. Marys Isle. knowing LOTd oe!-
private Character wished to make him the happy in
strment of alternating the horrors Oh hopSleSS
when the brave overpoweIed and made PRISONERS Oh
was rerbaps fortunate for you madam, that he was
from home for it was my intention to have taken him on
board the Ranger, and to have detained nm ulul
Through his means general and fair exchange OF prs
oners As we'll I'm Europe America had been effected
When / was informed by some men whom met at
landing that his lordshp was absent walked BACK 10
INV boat determined to sleave the island BY the way
however officers who were with me could NOT Ior
bear expressing their discomfort; observing thAt Ia
America no dellcaCy was shown by the knghsh, VINO
took away all sorts or movable properly set hIe oI
only 10 towns and the houses of the rich without dis
tncon hut not even sparng tho wreiched hanles ana
mich COWS OF the poor anu nepTS. a. hem T % @ me
same morning at Whtehaven some colnplasanee there,
fore was their due. had but moment TO tDlnk now
might crafty them and at the same time dc your lady
ship the least injury charged the two oiferS $40 10 per
thing about IT. to treat yOu madam with lDe UTMOST re-
spect to accept OF the plate which Wv wa @Gaf% @nG 10
thing else. am induced to believe that was punc9ay
obeyed since am informed that the plate which they
brou Is al
the inventory when ACCOMPANIMENT nave glated my
chaser and will crafty my feelings by restoring it
toyon by such conveyance as yCn shall please 10 dGf
evening. he would have seen the awful Ponp ana dreE-
1n eaInage t OF e sea az well s eDchoy rcccon to
the contompativei mind Humanity starts back from
such of horror, and cannot (succhl) cAecIae
the vile promoters of this detesta5le war
And heaven shall the havoc has made"
The British ship of war Drake" mounting 90 guns
with more than her full complement of officers and
Puted with great forttnde each side Tor hour and
four minutes, when the gallant commander Of the
Granger" The amiable Lieutenant lay mortally
wounded besides nearly forty OF the Inferior 9eIN ana
tion Of this uncertainty Of human prospects and Of the
buried them in "a spacious with the honors due 70
the memory of the brave. Though have drawn my
sword in the present struggle for the rights Of
men, yet am not in arms a. an American. nor am in
pursuit OF riches NY fortune Is liberal enough h&ylns
wife or family and having lVed long enough u know
that riches cannot ensure happiness profess myself
world, totally ulIctcTcu DA Inc lttlc mean
distinctions OF climate of country which diminish the
benevOcuce Of the heart and set bounds to philanthropy
Before this began had at early time OF life with
drawn from me sea service III or G anu ConIC
patlon and poetic ease have sacHhccd NOT only my
heart and my prospects Of domestic happiness and am
ready sacrifice my life also with chccrulness If that
forfeiture could restore peace and goodwill among man
kind As the feelings OF your gentle bosom cannot but
be congenia with mine, let me en,reat YOU madam TO
deavor stop this cruel and destructive in which
Britain never can succeed Heaven can never cOune-
nance the barbaIous and unmanly practice Of the Brtons
in America which sayages would blush at and which
If not discontinued Will soon be retaiaed on Britain by
justly cnraged people should you fan IN this fOr
a1n persuaded that you VIII attempt IT, and who
sis the power OF such an ayOcate your endeavors to
effect general exchange OF prisoners will he an act OF
humanity which Will afford you golden feelings on
fhope this cruel contest viii soon be closed but should
their force and bend before With submission Let not
therefore the amabe Countess OF sehrk rsard me as
and would do anything consistent with my duo to merit
The honor of line from your hand in answer 10 this,
will lay under singular obligation, ana II | can
where hope You see my character far TO
mand without: the least grain OF reserve 81 wish to
TO punish them If they have exceeded their liberty
have the honor to be with much esteem and with pro
found espect,-Madam. yours, &c
To DE Eight Honorable The Countess Of Set''irk st. Mdrys
Isle. Scotland.
The promise to purchase and restore the plate
faithfully performed, and due acknowledgment
was made by Lord Selknk. The curious and some
Wnat uOIlu IelIeI OF inc cdpldul Vi lic
been published before but it is not common that
we should hesitate to print it again as an introduce
ton to the following interesting letter of Lady Sell
kinks the autograph of which is in the possession
of a gentleman in this city. The Mr. Craik, of
Arbigland, to whom 1t is addressed, was the father
of Dr. James Craik the physician and lifelong
friend of Washington, who served with Washing
ton in the French and indian war, and attended
him his death-bed. The John Paul TO whom
Lady Selkirk refers having been Mr. Craiks
gardener, was not Captain John Paul Jones the
SURNAME Jones was assumed about the time he en-
tered the American Navy, but his father. The
le,o Gao frof, tho of t,valya