The National tribune., 1898-08-18
CHAPTER XIII.

PAUL JONES'S VILLA STORY Ol
BARERE-THE GREAT FIR ENCH
MANS LAST TRIBUTE.
Jones made his will in his apartment
IN Tourmon street, Paris, July Is, 1892, ;
little less than two months before hi
death.
In April. 1892, he made a trip to Amster
dam for consul tation with the Russian
Ambassador To the Netherlands IN regart
to his commission of Nice-AdmIrai If
Catharine's Navy. Catharine had IN
formed him through Count Segur that she
desired him To return To Russia at once 1
his health would permit, and take com
mand of her Baltic fleet, which, in view
of the then imminent outbreak OF wal
between France and Austria, and prob
ably Prussia also, she desired TO have
put in readiness for sea.
Hopeless of ever again being able to
stand the Russian climate, Jones there
fore went TO Holland for the purpose OF
placing his resignation in the hands OF
the Russian Ambassador. 1t was for
warded TO Catharine, but she sent to HIM
in August. through Nj. Simolin, an auto
graph letter, declining to accept 1t and
expressing hope for his recovery.
While in Holland at this time Jones
received long letter from his old friend
Suwarrow, dated March 5, 1892, at Wilma.
In this letter, Suwarrow, after informing
Jones that he had lust been appointed TO
the supreme command in Poland and OF
the whole Baltic frontier, went on TO lore
cast the immediate future of European
politics and diplomacy with prophetic
accuracy. In the course of il he said.
do not, my good brother, let any siren,
either of flesh or of ambition, entice you
away from the service of the Empress.
hear bad reports of your health, but am
L. Iii. 20 fla.l
Black Sea. There is the place where
Russia needs you. Remember that in
1888 England and Prussia coalesced to
protect the Turk from us, and even
Austria withdrew from our alliance when
she found we had an intention OF striking
at the Sultan in his Capital itself-you to
invade the BoSphorus with the fleet; l to
scale the Balkans with the army.
Now your Frenchmen are preparing a
stew OF mischief that must soon keep all
the Western powers busy 10 save them
selves. / do not deceive myself / can
see that the goings on in France must
soon overSet the monarchy.
when that is done France will be the
common enemy of neighboring monarchs,
and there will be general war in Western
Europe. occupying the whole attention
and energy of Austria, Prussia and Eng
land, and lasting long time.
These things cannot be long postponed
may declare war before this finds you.
(This was absolute prophecy. Suwar- |
rows letter was dated March 5. War |
broke out between France and Austria |
April 20. Jones did not receive the letter |
until some time in AIay)
when all Western Europe shall be thus
viii be cur time. We shall |
then have free hand with the Turk
Our command of the Black Sea is safe
Since you went away nine new ships of
the line have been built there, and six
stout new frigates; more than doubling
the force you had at the Limau.
Then, what is more, | can protect you
now from court intrigues, that could not
do before. Since Ismaii, courtiers have
not troubled me. ! brush them away as
flies. In new Turkish campaign
would be Generalissimo Of all forces, land
and sea, and you would be responsible
only TO me-a situation which, / fiatter
myself, would not be intolerable to you
Such rs my scheme. Thus far / have
impaired it TO no one but the Empress.
She approves il, and will move the !
moment the conditions l expect in West
ern Europe come TO pass
Now, my good brother, the Empress
will have copy of this letter She will
agree with me that your presence in COM
mand of the Black Sea fleet is a neces-
sary part of the scheme ] therefore ex-
hort you TO make no entanglements in the
West, but return here as soon as you can.
Come now, in the Summer when you can
safely go to St. Petersburg; and come by
way OF my camp here or in Poland, SO
hat we may discuss plans'
1here rs no record Of JoneS'S reply to |
his remarkable letter
During this visit to Holland he went on