Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-17
Digging in French Archives.

The French minister promptly signified
his adhesion to the suggestion of the
president of the society in France s.
H., who thereupon recommended the fol-
lowing members of the commission who
were confirmed and accepted by NJ Del
casse:
M. Maclean, NJ. Huntington, M. Merou,
consul of France at Chicago, and M
Chaille-Long. To this commission was
subsequently added Prof. La Cour Gayet
of the Ecoia de la Marine; Prof Arthur
Chuquet, member of fInstitut and the
College de France. The ministers of war
and marine detached clerks and ships
writer's for service with the commission
and 1t should be noted that two of the
latter VINO deserve special mention for
their work under the orders of the writer
Charles Michel and l. Laplanche, are de-
scendants OF sailors who fought for
American independence in the fleets of
Counts d Estaing and de Grasse.
The work of digging out the names of
the forty thousand or more .combattants
was pursued with diligence The army
was undertaken by NJ. Merou then in
Paris; the navy register, rotting and
moulded by time, more difficult propo-
sition. was confided to Major Huntington
and Colonel Chaille-Long The writer
more actively engaged than his associates
by reason of his familiarity with the mys-
teries of the language and it's chirography
was actively engaged in overhauling the
tacks of grip, thereby proving that the
microbe was strenuous member and at
tache of the defenders of our cause in
the revolution. The work, maintained
with Vlgor, was finally achieved and was
submitted by General Porter to M Del
I.casse, who caused it to be published at
the expense of the ministry of foreign af-
fairs under the title of Les CombattantS
Francois dams la guerre in la Revolu-
ton Americana, 1776-17S5."
Copies of the volume were subsequently
presented through the intermediary of
Mr.. Jusserand, ambassador of France to
Washington, to President Roosevelt, the
Secretary of State, the Congressional and
department libraries and the public Ii
braries OF the principal cities in the
United States.
The society of the Sons and Daughters
of the American Revolution make frequent
requests that the volume be translated into
English, and a resolution to that end was
introduced in the last Congress, but it
failed of acton. The societies of the
S. A. r.. the sons and daughters alike in
their present and future congresses should
take up the matter and secure action which
the Congress of the United States failed to
take
Adopting Name of Jones.
Several articles in the press express sur
prise that Commodore John Paul should be
called Jones, and these authors ask 1.-The
occasion of his taking the name" The
reply is easy, and is told besides in Buelps
Life of Paul Jones' which should be
read by every American patriot that he
may be made familiar with the genius and
extraordinary character of the greatest
naval hero the world has ever known 1t
is a sad commentary upon fame and re-
nown that only 113 years after his death
such ignorance should be manifested.
The records of Spotsylvania county, Va
show that brother of John Paul, Will
liam. was adopted by a Scotch resident
named Jones. William died, leaving his
property TO his brother John Paul upon
condition, which was accepted that ne as
sumo the name of Jones.
Jones' Meeting With Lafayette.
Prior to Paul Jones' command of the
Ranger and his departure for Europe he
made the acquaintance of the Marquis de
Lafayette under the following circum-
stances:
The Marquis de Lafayette, accompanied
by Baron de Kalb and other French Off
GERS, arrived in Georgetown s. c.. April
10, 17T7. While en- route to Philadelphia
and at Alexandria, Va. Lafayette became
somewhat embarrassed in his directions
concerning the relay of horses. A stranger
standing by came to his rescue-an incident
which Lafayette describes thus:
"A slender, black-haired, black-eyed
swarthy gentleman, in a naval uniform and
of most martial and distinguished bearing
approached and said in perfect French:
Pardon, Monsieur, Pouvrais je ry the
utile? Dams ca cas- je me items a votre
disposition Delighted to hear my mother