The National tribune., 1898-05-05

land soon afterward Acting Gunner; John
C.. Robinson, of Philadelphia, Boatswain;
together with about dozen or more whom
he rated petty officers OF the more impor-
tant stations.
What the Richard did with these genu-
inc American sailors aboard is a matter of
history. What her fate might have been
without them can-fortunately perhaps
never be known.
Thus Irefitted rearmed and with re-
organized crew. the Richard may have been
the fair equivalent of a 40gun frigate UNI
der the rating of that time, including the
metal Of her 18-pourder battery IN the
steerage. Built at Nantes ia 17G6, she
was now an old ship, having made several
voyages TO Pondicheny as an East India
man.
Her principal dimensions were:
Length on main deck. .152 feet.
Length of keel for tonnage. .128 feet.
Extreme breadth ................... 40 feet.
Depth of hold IL feet
Burden French measurement. .90o tons.
Built for carrying passengers and heavy
cargo she was roomy and comfortable be-
tween decks, and had plenty of stowage Tor
stores, provisions, water and ammunl-
ton. She was as good a sailer as the
average of English frigateS, except when
extremely close hauled, on which point OF
sailing she was dull and much given to
leeway.
The Alliance, which was notably the
fastest ship of her rate in the world at that
time, could sail all around the Richard in
working to windward.
JONES'S ASPIRATIONS.
Under date of Aug. 8, 1873, five days be-
fore sailing, Jones wrote to his friend, MIR.
Hewes also sending copies of the letter 10
Gen. Washington, DIR. Franklin and La
Eayette. After some account OF his en-
laar in q
Chaumont, he says:
"In spite of these drawbacks and diff
culties | can now see my way clear To a
real cruise. | hope to realize in il some G:
my ambitions toward promoting the repu-
tation OF America on the sea.
1.-THE capture of the Drake, small as the
ships were and unimportant as the result
was in regard To the operations OF the war,
still produced a wonderful moral effect
upon the continent of Europe and alarmed
the English more than they have been
alarmed in many years.
Now. with the force ] have, iil-aSSorted
and hampered as il is by untoward con-
ditions, ! can, if fortune favors me with
the opportunity, fight a much more I'M
preSsive battlel
with this in view ! should not deem il
a misfortune if fell in with ship of the
enemy superior enough 10 make the taking
of her an event of more than ordinary note.
Mindful OF all / have said and written to
you dDDuI tfic great DSbtlil WHICH
would accrue 10 our cause from a striking
naval success, demonstrating our ability
TO cope with the English on the element
they have so long ruled, | shall welcome
the approach of such ship
I'm all sincerity, my friend-best Of
friends, ] assure you that If such oppor-
tunity shall come 10 me, l will improve il
in manner that neither country will soon
forget.
Il might have better Ship and my
crew would Of course be better if they were
all Americans. But ! am truly grateful
for ship and crew as they are, and If
should fail and fall, wish this writing TO
witness that 1 take all the blame upon
myself"
A NON SECTIONAL CREW.
The roster called for PAL officers, petty
officers, seamen and boys. and 1872 ma
rines; 1913 all hands the day the ship sailed
In view of the imperishabIe Tenown these
m n won, ii may not be uninteresting to
the present generation 10 know from VIII
parts of the Union the 155 Americans of
the Richards crew came. The original
roster, a copy of which / have, gives the
States or ports from which they hailed, as
follows: