The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-06-10

officers TruNun, however. did excellent
service in privateers, usually not very
honorable ships in themselves, as u'A
prey ONLY on the commerce of an enemy
vet in the revolution many pfNatcerS ho'l-
IN engaged with armed ships. Naturally
the naval men held priyateers I'm contempt
and q letter of the great Paul Jones is eA-
tant which shows that he and young cap
tain TruNtun had sharp quarrel over 'hs
rights of privateers. Congress had paS7e'
an act forbidding "a prlEaieer TO most "
pennant i'm the presence Of a haNM SUPP
without first getting the consent OF inc
naval ships commander. TruNtun, an I'M
netuous Young man of twenty-five, in COM
mand of the snip Independence from Ihlia-
delphia arrived at I.Orlent IN France III
1880 At the same time the ARIEL undeI
command of Paul Jones, was lying IN lhe
port What followed Paul Jones hInSel
describes in "A letter addressed TO MI
Thomas TruNtun, master Oh lhe sup nut
pendcncc.
You PASSED some time ago with the
merchant ship called the Independence be
longing to Philadelphia, close under the
stern of the continental ship Ariel, under
my command. in the Road OF GroiN; ana
YOU then showed no mark or respect TO lhe
continental flag of commission, but went
on with long pendant flying, and WIN
out lowering any sail or color or crew
showing any mark of pohtencss. in the
port OF LOriont you We're not salshed
with long pendant, but you holSled 4
kind OF broad one, and until yesterday
YOU have worn il al your mooriuGs ~ pres
.N. ,trt Total ship Ar"i. 'AS
was flying in the face OF a positive reso-
..... -. ....-->.-. ,.r-e.' .pL4 'e.-~' "''a
Yesterday under sail; she was stecrcd IN
my presence very near the Ariel in passing
down to Port Louis. | then sent Il DolI
with an officer to request yourself or your
representative to take down the pendant
The officer returned and reported 70 me
that my boats crew had been menaced ps
your people and that your mate said ne
had your orders to treat with contempt EnV
disobey any order or request 10 haul down
the pendant. When l found this, / sent
Lieutenant Dale back with two boats arm
ed and with another polite message, ana
such orders as l viii answer for having
given. The pendant was then nauled uoWH
as ne aDDroachcd. l cannot answer your
letter OF this date more particularly, -
there are in il several words thar 40
not understand and cannot ma IN the ulc-
tionary. l shall receive no more letters
from you on the subject. II IS not me you
have offended. gu nave onenqeo .nr
United States of America. l am, SIR, your
most humble servant. }. PAUL JON IS.
By this II will be seen that TruNtun
was and always remained better fighter
than writer. His after achievements make
II source of keen regret that such man
should have been engaged i'm such call
ing as privateering, when he might have
assisted his country much better on
regular ship of war, like Paul Jones and
Richard Dale.
Truxtun's New Command.
Truxtun had an adventurous time OF It
during the revolution, and made a name
for himself as a man OF enterprise and
splendid seaman. He remained i'm the
merchant service after the war was over:
but when the United States began to create
a navy i'm 1874. TruXtun was given a cap
tail's commission. Trouble had Zen brew
ing with France. for some time, and in
1891, the government determined to build
several fine frigates in case of war, ana
this year saw the launching of the two
noble ships, the Constitution and the Con
stellation, which were both destined to
win mortal fame. Truxtun was appointed