The National tribune., 1898-05-19

: ing that one of his SubOrdinateS should
) take off his hands a quarrel entirely his
own.
THE opinion of all who knew of the
affair was that Landais displayed sound
: prudence in not pressing this quarrel with
| Dale; because Dick was not only adept
with the pistol, but he was also past
master in skill with Landais'S own favor
ite weapon, the rapier and all who knew
, him. knew well that the first crossing of
blades would make his lame leg for the
) time at least-as well as it ever wasf'
} Dick believed that Masters Mate Cos
well and several men of the Richards crew
had been killed by the Alliances fire, and
he ardently desired to kill Landais in
retaliation
Jones, with characteristic chivalry, left in
his own writings no express record OF this
affair. His nearest approach to it is a
laconic letter to Lieut.. Lunt, which has
been preserved, and is as follows:
Il have received your written report OF
the LandaiS affair, and thank you more
than | can express in words for your loyal
and capable management i'm my behalf
Henry Lunts written report referred
to was not preserved; but Acting Lieut..
Mayrant, who accompanied him to Amster-
dam, was cOnversant with it's tenor, and
afterward reproduced it in a document
| which / have seen.
A DIPLOMATIC DIFFICULTY.
While this personal matter was pending,
Jones found himself beset by an official
and diplomatic complication far more grave.
No sooner had this shattered squadron
| and prizes anchored in the roads of the
| Texel than the alert British Minister at the
Hague, Sir Joseph YOrke, demanded that
all be delivered up to the English Govern
ment as pirates, because they were sail
| ing under flag which Great Britain did
not recognize as that of a legitimate SOW
| ereignty.
This representation was made in face of
| the fact that Great Britain had already
| tacitly recognized the belligerent rights of
the revOlted American Colonies by ex-
change of prisoners, and by granting the
| privilege of cartel
The Dutch Government promptly met
Sir Joseph York's demand by urging these
| facts, but the adrOit English diplomatist
parried the argument by saying that the
| exchange of prisoners had been allowed
as measure of humanity only and was,
| therefore, without political significance;
concluding with the naughty assurance
that unless the Dutch Government should
| act at once confOrmably to his demand
| the English feet then cruising Off the
Texel, consisting of seven sail of the line,
| four 50-gun ships, five frigates, besides
smaller vessels would enter the roads and
solve the problem in a concise manner"
The States General of Holland was not
prepared for war. The Dutch feet in the
four brigs-was inferior to the British feet
in the of1ing. Forcible entry by the British
naval force was to be avoided to the last
extremity. AS compromise the Dutch
Government, while refusing to give up
Jones and his prizes on the ground OF
piracy, agreed to compel them to leave the
anchorage of the Texel with the first favor
able wind. This arrangement Sir Joseph
Yorke accepted, confident that the crippled
ships would fall an easyprey to the Eng
lish feet outside. a.
Just at that critical moment Louis XVI.
interferred by instruetfng his Minister at
the Hague, the Duk6-de VanguyOn to in
form the States General that Jones held a
French as well as an American commits
sion, and that, with 1thes exception OF the
Alliance, his ships and prizes belonged to
the King of France. This brought the
States General TO the dire alternative OF
war with either FrancesOr England; be-
cause, while Sir Joseph YOrkc threatened
that the English fleet would enter the
Texel if his demand was infused, Vanguyon
intimated that if Jones and his ships,
which, except the AIliance belonged to
France, were forced to 60 to sea in face OF
the English feet, French army would
invade the Netherlands.
DISPLAY OF DIPLOMATIC SKILL.
In this crisis Jones displayed tact and
address as diplomatist quite equal to his
skill and courage as a naval commander.
He says in his journal:
The affair had now come to the point |
which desired. The King of France had |
taken charge of my prizes, and had as
sumed responsibility for the keeping and |
of my prisoners. Meantime the |
Alliance as purely American ship was
left to me for freedom OF action. My object
was now to so deport myself as to free the
Dutch Government from embarrassment |
on American account, and thus bring the |
whole question of sheltering the ships 10
an issue between the States General and |
he King; and at the same time to leave the !
sting of Sir Joseph YOrke's arrogance rank
ing in their bOsoms.
The Dutch Admiral (de Riemersma), |
who had been exceedingly courteous to me
through all this complication, now oppor-
uneIy invited me on board his flagship |
Before going aboard Of him | assumed COM
nand of the Alliance, transferring all my
American sailors to her and taking all |
french subjects over into the Scraps; |
md then gave up the command OF the
ships the King of France had adopted
,erapis, PalIOs, Vengeance, and Scar
,Oro-to Capt C0ttineau.
"On boarding the Dutch Admiral / in
ormed him that no longer commanded
he squadron, but was simply Captain of
he Alliance under my American COM
nission, and was ready to sail with the
rst fair wind. This astonished him, and |
L
/ told him that might be |
rue, but as such dual authority and pro-
ectiOn seemed productive OF embauaSS- |
lent to his Government, | had decided to |
awe any rights as French officer and |
ccept whatever fate might befall me as an |
meTican Captain commissioned by the |
OngresS.
He seemed disconnected at this and |
wished that | had determined
therwise. In fact, he intimated as
trongly as he could without exactly say
,g so that he would like to see my French
ommission. Had shown it am satisfied
e would have guaranteed me at once all
rejection in his power, as his sympathy
ith me was perfectly evident.
But it was no. my policy to invite pro-
,ction. wished to let Sir Joseph Yorke
D his worst, and trusted to the future to |
ring about the open rupture between
oland and England which ! clearly fore
iw as a necessary consequence.
Therefore | pretended not to see what
G was driving at, and resolutely persisted
my assurances of intention to put to sea
4 the Alliance with the first fair wind
yelling all the time on the naughty
-rogance of Sir Joseph YOrke and the
supportabe tyranny OF his demands.
ortunately the Secretary of the Dutch
dmiralty Van der Copellan) was one of
e dinner party, and ! knew that all this
ould be promptly reported by him to the
ague. l
AN OFFER OF CONVOY.
s.The next mOrnjnp when went oyer tho |