New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-07
PAUL JONES AND LORD SELKIRK.

70 the EdjtOr Of The TrtbHne
SIR: The letter written by John Paul Jones to
Lady sekirk, printed in THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE recently
was copied from tho only authendci lie OF ful Jono'
that has ever been published that written by my late
father Colonel John II. Sheriurnc OF HSinouth n H.
the administrator of his estate.
NV father also received from Thomas Jefferson VINO
was the personal friend Of my grandfather Judge oher
burne Of Portsmouth, n H., dated in the year $50
from Monticello, package contaning-to q'o'' ali 'he
pauers in my possession % the late Commodore fau
Jones with whom was much acquainted during my res
tdeuce IN Paris" may also add that my grandfather
the late Hoo. Elijah Hun, Of Portsmouth, was hcu'eh
ant I'm the navy became warm friend OF Paul Jones'
and left many valuable papers 10 my father.
The whole history OF the landing at ST. Mary Isle was
given verbally to my father by my grandfather one OF
the eutenanS who landed at the Isle and superintendent
the packing CT the plate The following letter from LORD
Selkrk may he of interest:
Monsieur Ic Chcra i,r F0tti Jones dTis.
SIR: I received tho letter you wrote to me at
Had known where direct letter TO you, at the time
but not knowing it, not finding that Of my acpuaint-
ances at Edinburgh knew it, was obliged delay writinc
ed with America was told NJ Il Grand your banker
in Paris and would take proper care o. letter 10 you;
therefore imclGSc this TO him Notwithstanding All inc
precautions YOU took for the easy ana uller'CG con
yeyanee Of the plate yet It met "l' fooanE o %f
1t at last arrived at DumiIes intended TO put az aLu
Gle i'm The news apcrs about having returned II; bul
before was informed it, being arrived Of yOur
friends s,pDo,c had nut II in Dumfries uCws dCrs,
wlcncc II was imucdint copied in the Edinburgh pa
pers thence into the lOnJOu since that time nav"
mentioned il TO many people of fashion; and on all ocCd
SONS sir, and formerly, have done yon tle usla"
TO tell that made offer OF returning the lItt very
soon after your return to Brcat; ana aiIhou.h you
Yourself were house. but remained 40 the s0lc
with your boat that yet you hdd your oWcelS ana men
in such Extraordinary good discipline, that you having
StrCtest orders to behave WELL 10 DO no
Injury any kind, tOmakc no search but only 10 DrlnE
of what plate given them; that IA rctly ihey ala
exactly ordered and that not one Offered 10 sur from
his post door, entered the doors, nor su one
mcivil word the two officers stayed not quarter
OF AN hour in tue paTlor and buffers pantry while the
butler GOT the plate together behaved politely ard asked
men oil IN REGULAR order, ana that both officers ana men
behaved In all respects well that 10 would have done
credit disc pin 1t troops whatever. some OF
the English papers at that time having put III confused
accounts your expedition to Whitcburn and scotland
ortcrcd proper OF hat happened in scotland 10
my house by which the good conduct and clNl behavior
of your officers and done Justice 10, aud at
tri6uted to your order and the good discipline you man
tanned your people
am, sir, your most humble servant
sELKIRK.
Paul Jones maintained correspondence with my grand
father Judge sherbuInc, of Portsmouth, mostly Of a
lght and agreeable nature As "a matter of historical
interest may add that tine close of the Revolution my
grandfather accepted the appointment of Naval Ohcer
for Portsmouth, which he retained at the of eighty
three at the time Of death in 1876. Although offered
pension by Government he would not receive II. He
said the name he left his children far more valuable
than pension certificate. q. H. SlEEBCKSE HULL
BROOKLYN, jan. ,, 1884.