A Relic of the Revolution - Chapters 21-23



CHAPTER XXI.
A HURRICANE.--GREAT DISTRESS.--KILLS A DOG.--DOG DIVIDED.--COOKED AND 
EAT.--RATS EAT IN PRISON.--VOLUNTARY SURRENDER.--GOOD NEWS.--CARTEL 
ARRIVED.--PARDON.--GREAT JOY.--A SMALL DONATION.--SPANISH FLEET.--ANOTHER 
PARDON.--A WONDER.--NUMBER OF PRISONERS LEFT.--WAIT IMPATIENTLY.--ANOTHER 
HOLE IN HAND.--ELEVEN FRENCHMEN ESCAPE.--GOOD NEWS FROM BILBOA.--HAPPY 
EVENT.--TWENTY-SIX MONTHS A PRISONER.--INCENDIARY.--PENITENT SICK 
PRISONERS.--KING'S PARDON.

JANUARY 8. It is two years, to-day, since we arrived in this Sound. One of 
those that were brought back yesterday, brought a paper in with him, in 
which is an account of an hurricane that happened about ten days ago, at 
London, in which a great number of houses were blown down; and by the same 
tornado, a great many vessels were cast away, at Margate Roads, and a 
number of lives lost. Among the rest was an East Indiaman. By the paper, 
we also learn, that a great part of Greenwich Hospital was consumed by a 
fire that took place there.

This is a much worse time to be on short allowance than any time since we 
have been in prison. As there are so many on half allowance, those who are 
on full allowance, and are willing to help us, are unable, for their own 
allowance is not sufficient to support nature; and the half of that is 
intolerable. There are numbers in prison on half allowance who have not a 
penny to help themselves with. New shoes have been sold for a shilling, 
and new shirts for the same price, by persons who, perhaps, had no others 
to wear; in short, there are a great many long faces in prison, for 
nothing but hunger rages throughout. To such a degree is this the case, 
that we killed a dog this afternoon, in order to let him cool by to-
morrow, and his insides were scarcely out, before his liver was on coals 
broiling.

9. This morning we divided the dog into quarters, and he was dressed so 
neat, and being so fat withall, that if I had seen him in a butcher's shop 
I should have thought it to be a young lamb, and good meat. We had a bag 
of potatoes given us, to eat with our venison. Some stewed theirs; others 
roasted it; and I must confess, I made a tolerable meal out of some of 
this roasted dog, with potatoes dipped in its drippings. Rats have been 
eat in this prison often before. To-day the agent told us that he had 
received an answer to our petition, and that at we are to be allowed peas 
instead of greens, which is much better. He had received an order, that if 
we would deliver up those who were most active in digging the hole, the 
rest should be restored to full allowance. But the majority in prison were 
inclined to give them no satisfaction. This afternoon, however, two young 
men, of their own accord, went and delivered themselves up, and were sent 
to the Black-hole, thinking to live well, I suppose, while there, as 
doubtless they will.

10. To-day we were all restored to full allowance, and received peas. We 
had, also, white bread sent in by our friends. Thus, it is either a feast 
or a famine with us. I have been only eleven days on half allowance. To-
day, about twelve o'clock, Mr. Heath sent a man to inform us that a cartel 
had arrived in Plymouth, for us. Soon after, Mr. Sorrey came with a letter 
which he had received from the committee in London, and read it to us, 
which informed us that one of the committee had waited on Lord Savage, the 
head lord of the Admiralty, to know the truth concerning this cartel, and 
he informed him that the Milford transport was engaged for that purpose, 
as a flag ship, and that we should be exchanged, one hundred at a time, 
and the first draft is to be from this prison, as we were committed first; 
so we shall embark and proceed to Nantz, where they will take an equal 
number, and so go on till all the American prisoners in England are 
exchanged, if there be enough English prisoners in France that were taken 
by the Americans. There were only about forty or fifty committed before 
me, but as there have been upwards of one hundred who have lately 
attempted to escape from here, and most of them brought back, myself among 
the number; and as it is customary in time of war for such to forfeit 
their turn, I began to despair of going in the first draft. In the mean 
time, all hands were called to hear a letter read, which the agent had 
received from the Lords of the Admiralty, who desired him to inform us 
that we were to be exchanged for the English prisoners in France, taken by 
the Americans; and that, notwithstanding a number of us had attempted our 
escape, and by this means had forfeited our turn, yet, in this instance we 
should be forgiven upon condition that we discovered through what 
corruption, or negligence, we effected our escape. This being read, he 
ordered the Black-hole doors to be opened. This is joyful news to us. Joy 
is to be seen on every man's countenance. This is a blessed day!

11. This afternoon Mr. Heath came to congratulate us on our prospect of 
deliverance, and brought a letter with him, which informed us that the 
cartel is now in Plymouth, waiting only for a man to come from France to 
take charge of us.

12. To-day Mr. Sorrey came, and brought every man a sixpence, which is 
part of twenty pounds that has lately been sent down from London, and 
which was left of the old stock; but we hear that they are about opening a 
new subscription.

13. We learn, from the papers, that the Spaniards have now seventy sail of 
the line, besides frigates and sloops, in different parts of Spain, 
mounting in all, seven thousand and three cannons, of different bores.

14. The sick, in the hospital, are most of them on the recovering order 
now, except three that moved down yesterday; and to-night I am to go down 
and watch with them, as of late, since there has been so many sick, we 
have been allowed, two of a night, to go down and watch with them.

15. This afternoon a pardon came down from the King, for fifteen men in 
this prison, that petitioned last to go on board the men-of-war; three of 
the number are already on board. They went out at the last hole, for that 
purpose. After the officers came to receive them, out of the twelve that 
remained in prison only four went, which makes forty-nine, in all, that 
have gone on board the men-of-war from this prison; besides numbers who 
have broke out and gone. It is astonishing to me, that men who have been 
used by the English as we have been, with all the severity that they have 
been masters of, should afterwards voluntarily enter their service.

16. Nothing remarkable.

17. Sunday. Nothing remarkable.

18. This forenoon, some officers from the ships came for some Frenchmen in 
the other yard, to carry them on board the men-of-war, and five out of the 
eight who would not go last Friday, altered their minds, and went, which 
makes fifty-four that have gone out of this yard, on board the men-of-war.

There are exactly two hundred and fifty American prisoners left here. This 
being the Queen's birth-day, the garrison and fort, and each ship in the 
harbor, in commission, fired twenty-one guns, as a royal salute.

19. We wait very impatiently for the man which we hear is to come from 
France to take charge of us. Though I am sensible he will make no 
unnecessary delays, yet he seems a long time coming; so long, that some in 
prison begin to be doubtful whether he will come at all.

20. Some in prison, so far despair of a cartel, that they have begun 
another hole. There was brought again, to-day, sixpence apiece for each 
man in prison.

21. Last night eleven Frenchmen made their escape from a separate prison, 
in another yard, and five soldiers are confined on the same account.

22. This forenoon Mr. Sorrey came again, and brought a couple of letters 
which he received from Bilboa, one of which was from Mr. Emery, of Bilboa, 
to Captain Lee's crew, which informed them that Captain Lee had arrived in 
Bilboa, and that his whole crew, if they would write, might be supplied 
with fifty shillings a share, and Captain Bradbury, in this prison, with 
six guineas.

This afternoon, all hands were called, and the agent called over the names 
of the hundred that were to go in the first draft, and desired that we 
should hold ourselves in readiness to be exchanged. Never was I so 
rejoiced to hear my name called, upon any occasion, as upon this. I am 
about the fortieth upon the agent's list. It appears that we are not to be 
exchanged as we were captured, but according to the date of our 
commitment, so that all our crew will not be included in the first draft. 
Out of one hundred and twenty which arrived in England, belonging to the 
Dolton, only eighty-six are left in prison to be exchanged.

23. We are so well assured of a cartel, now, that we lay aside all schemes 
for effecting our escape, and look out daily for orders to embark. An 
officer that belonged to the Mermaid frigate, that was chased ashore in 
America, who has been a prisoner in Philadelphia about a month, and has 
since been exchanged, and now arrived home, came to see us this afternoon, 
and talked with us. He gave us a very sad account of the price of 
provisions in America.

24. It is twenty-five months this night, that I have been a prisoner. We 
have been informed that last night, some men were discovered, in 
attempting to set fire to the King's dock-yard, in this port.

25. There are seven or eight now in the hospital, sick with fevers, but 
most of them are upon the recovering order, except those who were lately 
taken sick, two of which number labor under great concern of mind, 
relating to their future state, and to-day we obtained liberty of Mr. 
Condry, to send for a minister.

26. It is two years and two months, to-day, since I sailed from 
Portsmouth, in the brig Dolton.

27. Nothing remarkable.

28. As to-morrow is port day, we put great dependence on it, expecting an 
order from London concerning our exchange.

29. This morning Mr. Sorrey brought each of us another sixpence, which 
balances the twenty pounds before mentioned; and two of our officers, as 
usual, went up into the agent's office, to receive the money. The agent 
showed them a letter which he had received from London, with a pardon from 
the King for the first hundred that is to be exchanged.

30. Nothing remarkable.

31. Sunday. This is port day again, and there is no news for us to-day. It 
was a week last Friday since we were told to hold ourselves in readiness 
to be exchanged, and no signs of a cartel appears. If Job himself was 
here, his patience would be worn out.



CHAPTER XXII.
JOHN FOSTER, ELIAS VICKEY, AND ASA WITHAM DIED.--MR. DEAL'S ESCAPE.--
EFFECT OF LONG IMPRISONMENT.--NEW SUBSCRIPTION.--MILFORD TRANSPORT.--
JOYFUL NEWS.--HOLE DISCOVERED.--KEPPEL ACQUITTED.--BONFIRES.--ESCAPE.--NO 
COALS IN PLYMOUTH.--EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE DOG.--LOVE TO FRIENDS.--JAMES 
VALENTINE DIED.--BILLS OF EXCHANGE FROM BILBOA.--CARTEL ARRIVES.--
LIEUTENANT KNOX ARRIVES.--LEAVES THE PRISON.--KIND USAGE ON CARTEL.--
BONNER DARLING DIED

FEBRUARY 1. This morning about three o'clock, Mr. John Foster died in the 
prison hospital, of a nervous fever. Some of Mr. Foster's townsmen were of 
a mind that he should be buried in a white linen shirt, but they received 
for an answer, that no person in this country was allowed to be buried in 
any thing but sheep's clothing. The American prisoners, who died in the 
royal hospitals, were buried in black, but very rough coffins; but those 
who die in prison are buried in a rough white coffin. This Mr. Foster is 
the eighth man that has died since I came to prison - the seventh man of 
our crew that has died since we have been taken, and the seventeenth 
American prisoner that has died in prison and in the royal hospital, since 
we were captured.

2. To-day a gentleman came here, whom we are informed is but fourteen days 
from Dunkirk, but last from London, and he brought a letter from the 
Board, which ordered the agent to let him inspect every thing which he had 
a mind to. He looked at our meat, weighed our bread, and tasted our beef, 
and we are told that he has been in every prison in France.

3. This morning about five o'clock, Elias Vickery died. He was a 
Marblehead man. He was taken in one of the Freedom's prizes; and about six 
o'clock, Asa Witham died. He belongs to New Gloucester, and was taken in 
the Dolton. They have both been sick upwards of twelve months. - They make 
ten in number that have died since I have been in prison, and eight of our 
crew since we have been taken, and nineteen in all that have died of 
different crews since we have been taken. Last evening Mr. Deal made his 
escape from the officers' prison.

4. Three men have died this week, and there are sixteen or eighteen now 
sick. Of late, every day more or less are taken sick, and most of them 
with fever. Yesterday a French frigate, of twenty-six guns, was brought in 
here, which was taken by an English frigate.

5. This is another port day, and no news for us, concerning a cartel. It 
is unaccountable to me that it is so long coming. It is twenty months to-
day, since I entered this prison.

6. It is so long since we heard of a cartel that the greater part in 
prison begin to despair of its coming. Many of those in prison are like so 
many children; as long as a rattle is ringing in their ears, they are 
quiet and easy, but as soon as the rattle stops, they are faithless and 
impatient.

We have another hole in hand, which will take us nearly a month to 
complete; so that if this news proves abortive, we may have recourse to 
another way.

Last evening a man made his escape over the wall, but before any one could 
get out, it was discovered.

7. This is another port day, and no news for us.

8. Nothing remarkable.

9. This afternoon Mr. Sorrey sent us sixpence apiece to each man in 
prison, which we are informed, is part of a new subscription which is 
opened.

10. Yesterday was port day, and this morning the agent informed us that 
His Majesty had been graciously pleased to pardon one hundred of us, in 
order for an exchange; and that he had received an order from the Board of 
Commissioners of sick and wounded seamen, to deliver one hundred of us to 
Lieutenant Knox, whenever he should call for us. This Lieutenant Knox is 
to command the Milford transport, which is the cartel.

Transporting news! who can tell,
The joy that doth this joy excell;
Long as we live we should adore
The goodness God lays up in store.

11. We have been informed that the cartel is in Portsmouth, and never 
heard to the contrary, until to-day, when the agent informed us that she 
is in Dartmouth, waiting only for a fair wind to come down the channel.

12. Nothing remarkable.

13. Nothing transpired worthy of notice.

11. Through some dirt that was laid about the prison, and discovered by 
the turnkeys, which gave them cause to suspect we had another hole in 
hand, the guard came in, and after a long search, found it.

15. It is two years and three months since I sailed in the brig Dolton, 
from Newbury.

16. Nothing remarkable.

17. Last night two men made their escape from the officers prison, but 
were taken up and brought back to-day. Last night, Plymouth was 
illuminated on account of Admiral Keppel being acquitted with honor.

18. The wind is to the eastward to-day, but no signs of a cartel appears.

19. Upon a large hill, a little distance from the prison, we see a couple 
of flag-staffs erected, but we know not the occasion of it.

20. Upon the same hill where the flag-staffs were erected yesterday, there 
were two large bonfires last night, and the houses all around illuminated, 
which, we are told, was on account of the plot being discovered against 
the King's dock-yard, and last night was the time it was to be put into 
execution.

21. Nothing remarkable.

24. Last night a man made his escape out of this prison, by getting over 
the wall. This morning Mr. Sorrey came, and brought each of us another 
sixpence. For a few days past, we have had no coals to burn. Mr. Sorrey 
informed us that a bushel of coal is not to be purchased in Plymouth, at 
any price. He also informed us that fourteen sail of vessels, laden with 
coal, had lately been taken, bound from Newcastle. This afternoon, also, 
Mr. Heath came to see us; he has lately returned from London. He read a 
letter to us, which informed us that the cartel is in the Downs, detained 
only by contrary winds: also, that there has been a great talk in London, 
concerning our eating a dog, and that it had been published in the papers, 
and he desired that we would let him know the truth of it, whether we eat 
it from actual necessity or not. Mr. Heath sent us some soap and tobacco.

25. This forenoon, a gentleman came to see us, who is lately from London. 
He told us that when he sailed, the cartel absolutely lay in the Downs. By 
this time I hope we have got the truth of it.

26. Yesterday three gentlemen, who are our friends, came with Mr. Heath to 
see us. We have been so long confined, that when a friend comes into the 
yard to see us, we flock around him like children, and love the ground he 
treads upon. Also, to-day, we wrote them out the facts relating to the 
dog, agreeably to their request.

27. Nothing of interest.

28. Sunday. The wind hauls round to the northward and eastward, which 
gives us now to hope that our cartel will be here in a few days.

March 1. Nothing remarkable.

2. Nothing worthy of notice.

3. We understand that there is a fleet bound to the East Indies, and 
another to the West Indies, that lay wind-bound, up channel, as well as 
our cartel.

4. This morning, James Valentine died with a fever. He was a Marblehead 
man, and belonged to Captain Lee's crew. He is the twentieth man that has 
died since I have been taken, and the eleventh since I have been in 
prison. This has been a fast day with us; for the beef that came in this 
morning was so bad, and so far from being according to contract, that we 
sent it back again. - The second that came, was worse than the first, and 
we refused it, also. Our peas are also bad so that we could not eat them, 
and by applying to the officer of the guard, who spoke in our behalf, we 
received cheese instead of beef, but not until evening.

5. This morning we received the joyful tidings that our cartel had 
arrived. Some of the Marblehead men received letters from home, by way of 
a vessel that was taken. The bills of exchange for one hundred and nine 
pounds sterling, have arrived from Bilboa, for Captain Lee's crew, and are 
sent to London to be answered.

6. Notwithstanding our cartel has arrived, we understand that she is to 
wait for orders from London, before she can embark us.

7. Nothing remarkable.

8. This forenoon the outward bound East India fleet, with their convoys, 
passed by this port.

9. Nothing of interest.

10. This morning Lieutenant Knox, who is to transact the business of our 
exchange, came to see us, and informed us that he expects to embark us the 
beginning of next week. The cartel has come up to Stonehouse creek, where 
we can see her from the prison.

11. Nothing remarkable.

12. The wind has now veered round to the southward, and blows up rain, 
which I fear will delay our going.

13. This afternoon the agent, Mr. Coudry, informed us that on Monday, at 
ten o'clock, we are to embark.

14. Sunday. We are so impatient to be gone, that every moment of this day 
seems an hour long.

15. It is two years and four months to-day, since I left Newbury. This 
forenoon, about eleven o'clock, ninety-seven of us in number, were guarded 
down, and embarked on board the cartel - two of our number having died 
since we received the King's pardon, and one being dangerously ill.

16. We are now on board the cartel, and waiting only for a fair wind to 
sail. We are allowed the liberty of the deck, by day and night, and we 
have tolerable good accommodations. We lodge in cabins; most of us have 
beds of our own, and those who have not, have King's bedding. There are 
three or four sick amongst us, and they have single cabins by themselves. 
To-day we had salt beef and pudding, which is a great rarity.

17. The wind is still against us, but I feel much easier here than I 
should be in prison. Here we have a change of diet, though it is no more 
than prisoners' allowance, and both officers and men behave very civil to 
us.

18. To-day Mr. Heath came on board, and another of our friends, and 
brought some wine, tea, and sugar, and other necessaries, for those who 
are sick.

19. To-day the prison doctor came on board, and informed us that Bonner 
Darling is dead - a negro man that belonged to Marblehead, and one of our 
crew. He makes twenty-one that have died since I have been taken; and nine 
of the number were of the Dolton's company.



CHAPTER XXIII.
JOURNAL LOST.--THIRTY ENTER WITH JONES.--JOINS THE ALLIANCE.--ARRIVE AT L' 
ORIENT WITH PRIZE.--SECOND CRUISE.--JOURNAL LOST.--EXTRACTS FROM PAUL 
JONES' LIFE.--AT DR. FRANKLIN'S HOUSE.--JOINS AGAIN THE ALLIANCE.--SAILS 
HOME.

[THE journal of their passage to France is lost. The next record that is 
preserved, presents Mr. Herbert to us at Nantes, situated on the river 
Loire, in the south-western part of France.]

April 12. We lay here under pay, from the 5th of this month; have our 
board paid, and have nothing to do but walk about town. I have tried, but 
can get no labor, as business is very much stagnated here. Nearly forty 
sail of merchantmen are hauled up, and lay idle in this port.

14. About forty of our men have entered with Captain Jones, for twelve 
months, and this morning they set out for L' Orient, about seventy-five 
miles distant, by land.

17. Yesterday and to-day, I have been at work on board the Pallas, a 
French ship, To-day, the Alliance arrived here, with prisoners to be 
exchanged for us.

28. This day I received from Mr. Odaire, sixteen livres, which, including 
the four crowns before received, amounts to forty livres, which is a 
month's pay.

30. This day we embarked on board the Alliance. The Alliance is said by 
Commodore Jones to have been so called, for the following reasons:

"When the treaty of alliance with France arrived in America, Congress, 
feeling the most lively sentiments of gratitude towards France, thought 
how they might manifest the satisfaction of the Country by some public 
act. The finest frigate in the service was on the stocks, ready to be 
launched, and it was resolved to call her the Alliance."

May 16. This day we sailed for L'Orient.

[Extract from correspondence of Dr. Franklin, at this time, throwing light 
upon the journal of Mr. Herbert:

Passy, June 26th, 1779.

Dr. Franklin from the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 

GENTLEMEN,

The Marquis de Lafayette, who arrived here on the 11th of February, 
brought me yours of October 28th, and the new commission, credentials, and 
instructions, the Congress have honored me with.

I immediately acquainted the minister of foreign affairs with my 
appointment, and communicated to him, as is usual, a copy of my credential 
letter, on which a day was named for my reception. The end of that part of 
the instructions, which relates to American seamen taken by the French in 
English ships, had already been obtained; Captain Jones having had for 
some time, an order from court, directed to the keepers of the prisoners, 
requiring them to deliver to him such Americans as should be found in 
their hands, that they might be at liberty to serve under his command. 
Most of them, if not all, have been delivered to him. The minister of 
marine requesting that the Alliance might be added to Commodore Jones' 
little squadron, and offering to give Mr. Adams a passage in the frigate, 
with the new ambassador, I thought it best to continue her a little longer 
in Europe, hoping she may, in the projected cruize, by her extraordinary 
swiftness, be a means of taking prisoners enough to redeem the rest of our 
countrymen now in the English jails. With this view, I ordered her to join 
Captain Jones, at L'Orient, and obey his orders, where she is now, 
accordingly.]

June 19. This day we sailed from L'Orient, on a cruize in company with 
Captain Jones, a French frigate, a brig and a cutter.

[From Paul Jones to Dr. Franklin.
On board the Bon homme Richard, at anchor, Isle of Groaix, off L' Orient, 
July 1st, 1779.
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin.
HONORED AND DEAR SIR,

On the 19th ult., the American squadron under my command, consisting of 
the Bon homme Richard, 42 guns, Alliance, 36 guns, Pallas, 30 guns, Cerf, 
18 guns, and the Vengeance, 12 guns, sailed from hence with a convoy of 
merchant ships and transports with troops, &c., bound to the different 
ports and garrisons between this place and Bordeaux.

On the evening of the following day, I had the satisfaction to see the 
latter part of the convoy safe within the entrance of the river of 
Bordeaux, the rest having been safely escorted into the entrance of Nantz, 
Rochefort, &c. But at the preceding midnight, while lying-to off Isle of 
Vew, the Bon homme Richard and Alliance got foul of one another, and 
carried away the head and cut-water, sprit-sail yard, and jib-boom of the 
former, with the mizen mast of the latter; fortunately, however, neither 
received damage in the hull. In the evening of the 21st, I sent the Cerf 
to reconnoitre two sail, and Captain Varage was so ardent in the pursuit, 
that he had lost sight of the squadron next morning; and I am now told, 
that he had a warm engagement with one of them, a sloop of 14 guns, which 
he took, but was obliged to abandon, on the approach of another enemy of 
superior force. The action lasted an hour and a half; several men were 
killed and wounded on board the Cerf. That cutter is now fitting at 
L'Orient. On the 22d we had a rencontre with three ships of war. They were 
to windward, and bore down in a line abreast for some time, but seeing we 
were prepared to receive them, they hauled their wind, and by carrying a 
press of sail got clear, in spite of our utmost endeavors to bring them to 
action. On the 26th, we lost company of the Alliance and Pallas. I am 
unable to say where the blame lays. I gave the ships a rendezvous off 
Penmark rocks, but did not meet them there.

I anchored here yesterday noon, having had a rencontre the night before 
with two of the enemy's ships of war in the offing, in the sight of this 
island and Belle Isle. Previous to this I had given the Vengeance leave to 
make the best of her way to this road, so that the enemy found me alone in 
a place where I had no expectation of a hostile visit. They appeared at 
first earnest to engage, but their courage failed, and they fled with 
precipitation, and to my mortification out-sailed the Bon homme Richard 
and got clear. I had, however, a flattering proof of the martial spirit of 
my crew, and I am confident, that had I been able to get between the two, 
which was my intention, we should have beaten them both together.]

June 20. Last night, precisely at 12 o'clock, just as the starboard watch 
was going on deck, it was very pleasant weather, and we were lying to, 
with our topsails back to the masts. Captain Jones came down before the 
wind and run us down upon our starboard quarter, carrying away our 
mizenmast, and doing us much damage, and himself more, by springing his 
bowsprit, carrying away his head and cut-water, but fortunately no one was 
killed on board either of the ships.

July 2. We arrived at L'Orient, after a cruize of thirteen days ; 
likewise, the prize brig, which we took on the 28th of June, from Bordeaux 
bound to Dublin, with five hundred and sixty casks of wine and brandy on 
board.

[Dr. Franklin to Paul Jones.
I can say nothing about Captain Landais' prize. I suppose the minister has 
an account of it, but I have heard nothing from him about it. If he 
reclaims it on account of his passport, we must then consider what is to 
be done. I approve of the careenage proposed for the Alliance, as a thing 
necessary. As she is said to be a remarkable swift sailer, I should hope 
you might by her means take some privateers and a number of prisoners, so 
as to continue the cartel, and redeem all our poor countrymen.]

August 14. Having repaired our ships, and got a clean bottom, we sailed 
this day for L'Orient on a cruise with Captain Jones, two French frigates, 
two brigs, and a cutter. With this fleet we made the best of our way to 
Ireland. On our passage, we took in company a ship; soon after, Captain 
Jones took a brig laden with provisions. A few days after, we made 
Ireland. Upon making land, Captain Jones took a brig from Newfoundland, 
laden with oil and blubber, and after cruizing a few days along shore, we 
parted from the fleet in a gale of wind.

[Here some pages of the journal are lost, but the journal of Captain Jones 
will supply its place.]

[From Paul Jones to Dr. Franklin.
On board the ship Serapis, at anchor without the Texel, in Holland, Oct. 
3d, 1779.
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin.
HONORED AND DEAR Sir,

When I had the honor of writing to you on the 11th of August, previous to 
my departure from the Road of Groaix, I had before me the most flattering 
prospect of rendering essential service to the common cause of France and 
America. I had a full confidence in the voluntary inclination and ability 
of every captain under my command to assist and support me in my duty with 
cheerful emulation; and I was pursuaded that every one of them would 
pursue glory in preference to interest.

Whether I was, or was not deceived, will best appear by a relation of 
circumstances.

The little squadron under my orders, consisting of the Bon homme Richard, 
of 40 guns, the Alliance, of 36 guns, the Pallas, of 32 guns, the Cerf, of 
18 guns, and the Vengeance, of 12 guns, joined by two privateers, the 
Monsieur and the Granville, sailed from the Road of Groaix at day-break on 
the 14th of August.

The evening of the 26th brought with it stormy weather, with the 
appearance of a severe gale from the S. W. The gale continued to increase 
in the night, with thick weather. To prevent separation, I carried a top-
light, and fired a gun every quarter of an hour. I carried, also, very 
moderate sail, and the course had already been clearly pointed out before 
night, yet with all this precaution, I found myself accompanied only by 
the brigantine Vengeance in the morning, the Granville having remained 
astern with a prize. As I have since understood, the tiller of the Pallas 
broke, after midnight, which disabled her from keeping up, but no apology 
has yet been made on behalf of the Alliance.

On the 31st, we saw the Flamie Islands situated near the Lewis, on the N. 
W. coast of Scotland; and the next morning, off Cape Wrath, we gave chase 
to a ship to windward; at the same time two ships appeared in the N. W. 
quarter, which proved to be the Alliance and a prize ship which she had 
taken, bound, as I understand, from Liverpool to Jamaica. The ship which I 
chased brought too at noon; she proved to be the Union letter of marque, 
bound from London to Quebec, with a cargo of naval stores on account of 
government, adapted for the service of the British armed vessels on the 
lakes. The public despatches were lost, as the Alliance very imprudently 
hoisted American colors, though English colors were then flying on board 
the Bon homme Richard. Captain Landais sent a small boat to ask whether I 
would man the ship or he should, as in the latter case he would suffer no 
boat nor person from the Bon homme Richard to go near the prize. 
Ridiculous as this appeared to me, I yielded to it for the sake of peace, 
and received the prisoners on board the Bon homme Richard, while the prize 
was manned from the Alliance.

On the morning of the 4th, the Alliance appeared again, and had brought 
too two very small coasting sloops, in ballast, but without having 
attended properly to my orders of yesterday. The Vengeance joined me soon 
after, and informed me that in consequence of Captain Landais' orders to 
the commanders of the two prize ships, they had refused to follow him to 
the rendezvous. I am at this moment ignorant of what orders these men 
received from Captain Landais, nor know l by virtue of what authority he 
ventured to give his orders to prizes in my presence, and without either 
my orders or approbation.


**********

Two rich Letters of Marque were taken off the coast of Scotland, and 
Captain Landais took upon himself, even under my very nose, and without my 
knowledge, to order them to Bergen, in Norway, where they were given up to 
the English - Paul Jones to the Board of Admiralty.

**********

Three of their prizes sent into Bergen, in Norway, were, at the instance 
of the British minister, seized by order of the court of Denmark, and 
delivered up to him.

- Letter from Dr. Franklin to Samuel Huntington, Esq. President of 
Congress.

**********

The following letter from Dr. Franklin to Paul Jones, shows the value of 
those prizes, taken and delivered up as above. There can be no doubt that 
Mr. Herbert was sent in one of the above prizes, as the next entry in his 
journal is from Bergen, in Norway.

Havre, July 21st, 1785. The Hon. Paul Jones.

DEAR SIR, - The offer of which you desire I would give you the, 
particulars, was made to me by M. le Baron de Waltersdorff, in behalf of 
His Majesty the King of Denmark, by whose ministers he said he was 
authorised to make it. It was to give the sum of ten thousand pounds 
sterling, as a compensation for having delivered up the prizes to the 
English. I did not accept it, conceiving it much too small a sum, they 
having been valued to me at sixty thousand pounds. I wrote to Mr. Hodgson, 
an insurer in London, requesting he would procure information of the sums 
insured on those Canada ships. His answer was, that he could find no 
traces of such insurance, and he believed none was made, for the 
government, on whose account they were said to be loaded with military 
stores, never insured. - But, by the best judgment he could make, he 
thought they might be worth about sixteen or eighteen thousand pounds each.

**********

By the following letter it will be seen that Bergen was one of the places 
designated by Dr. Franklin, for sending prizes to.

Passy, June 30th, 1779.
Hon. Captain Jones.

DEAR SIR, - The prizes you may make, send to Dunkirk, Ostend, or Bergen, 
in Norway, according to your proximity to either of those ports.

February 5th, 1780. This day our officers received a letter from France, 
from a gentleman in Paris, which informs us that the King of Denmark is to 
pay for the prizes we brought in here, fifty thousand pounds stirling, 
which is two hundred and fifty thousand Rix dollars. He is likewise to pay 
all our expenses while here. We likewise received orders to repair to 
Dunkirk as quick as possible, but we are to have a pass from the King of 
Denmark, which is what we wait for.]

8. This day I received a pair of shoes, in balance of four shillings due 
me as wages.

25. This day I received half a guinea of a Scotchman, for which I gave him 
eleven shillings.

March 4. This morning arrived here from Virginia, a ship laden with 
tobacco, under French colors.

18. Fortunately I have got another guinea for which I paid only twenty-one 
shillings.

21. This day I received a pair of shoes, at five shillings.

April 1. 1 have received one shilling and sixpence for repairing shoes.

5. This day I received of Captain Thomas White, in behalf of wages due, 
four Rix dollars, each valued at four shillings stirling.

I have worked several days on board the before-mentioned tobacco ship, and 
have likewise made some chests for the seamen, for all of which I received 
four dollars.

10. This day I received of Captain Thomas White, two pounds six shillings 
and sevenpence halfpenny, stirling, which was the ballance due me for 
clothing which I was charged with, but did not receive - all of which was 
given by the King of Denmark. The occasion of this was, that when we were 
turned on shore, many of our men were in want of clothing. Our officers 
interceded for them, and procured the amount of four pounds four shillings 
sterling each; and as I received only a trifle in clothing, I received the 
remainder in money.

11. This day we embarked on board a gallion, of about seventy tons, found 
and provisioned by the King of Denmark, to carry us to Dunkirk, after 
boarding us here nearly six months.

19. This day we sailed from Bergen, after being there seven months and 
five days.

May 4. We arrived at Dunkirk, after a passage of seventeen days.

5. To-day I received of Captain Thomas White, forty livres, in behalf of 
wages due.

16. We set out to travel to Paris, which is one hundred and eighty miles, 
having a wagon to carry our baggage, and received eighteen livres per man, 
of Mr. Coffin, the American agent in Flanders, to bear our expenses to 
Paris.

21. This day, about eight o'clock in the morning, we arrived in the city 
of Paris, after a pleasant journey of more than three days, through 
Flanders into France and Paris. After we arrived at Paris we put up our 
horses, and stopped not either to eat or to drink, but made the best of 
our way to Passy, about four miles from Paris, where Dr. Franklin resides. 
After we came to Dr. Franklin's house and had a little conversation with 
him, he ordered his servants to get us breakfast, which we eat in his 
house, and likewise dinner. The Dr. sent his servants to provide lodgings 
for us, which he could not procure, on account of the King and Queen, and 
all the nobility, being in town, and all the public houses being taken up; 
therefore we carried our luggage to Dr. Franklin's house, where we were 
well entertained; and here we saw Mr. Adams and Mr. Dean. We procured 
lodgings for ourselves in the afternoon. The gentleman who owns the house 
where Dr. Franklin resides, ordered one of his servants to show us his 
gardens, to guide us through the town, and show us the King and Queen and 
all the nobility; these we have seen twice to-day, as they passed through 
the town, besides many other curious objects, both in Paris and Passy.

23. To-day our board was paid, and we received two guineas to bear our 
expenses to L'Orient, which is three hundred and sixty miles, and likewise 
a pass. [The widow of Mr. Herbert has now in her possession a crown piece, 
which her husband received of Dr. Franklin, at this time.] We shall be 
obliged to travel on foot; therefore I am compelled to sell, or give away, 
all my clothing, except a trifle of the best, which I shall retain as a 
change.

24. This day we commenced our journey to L'Orient.

June 5. We arrived at L'Orient.

7. To-day I went on board the Alliance.

8. We sailed in the Alliance for America, in company with a ship, a brig, 
a schooner and a lugger. Also, I received this day of the purser, on board 
the Alliance, two shirts, one pair of shoes, a pair of trousers and a 
knife.

July 10. This day I received of the purser, one outside jacket.

August 13. We made land, which proved to be Cape Ann, having a passage of 
thirty-eight days, from land to land.

I left the Alliance, August 21st, and arrived home at Newbury, August 23d, 
1780.



LIST OF PRISONERS TAKEN IN THE BRIGANTINE DOLTON, AND COMMITTED TO MILL 
PRISON, PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND, JUNE, 1777.

The following marks denote (*) dead -- (+) escaped -- (++) joined English 
men-of-war -- (d/e) died or escaped before any were committed to prison -- 
(P. J.) means with Paul Jones -- (A.) in the Alliance.

From Newburyport, Mass.:

Captain Eleazer Johnston + 
1st Lieut. Anthony Knapp +
2d Lieut. John Buntin
Daniel Lunt +
Alexander Ross 
Offin Boardman +
Moses Cross
Thomas Cluston +
Cutting Lunt (P. J.)
Wym'd. Bradbury
Henry Lunt (P. J.)
Samuel Cutler +
Francis Little
Joseph Asulier +
Joseph Brewster (P. J.)
Nathaniel Wyer +
John Knowlton d/e
Joseph Racklief
William Shackford (A.)
John Key +
John Barrenger +
- Stickney
Joseph Poor (A.)
Nathaniel Warner
Josiah George +
Moses Merrill
Jacob True (P. J.)
John George
Richard Lunt (A.)
Ebenezer Brown (A.)
Paul Noyes (A.)
Joseph Plummer (A.)
Reuben Tucker
John Smith (A.)
Charles Herbert (A.)
Joseph Choate (A.)
Thomas Bayley (A.)
Nathaniel Bayley (P. J.)
Benjamin Carr (A.)
Samuel Woodbridge
Henry Smith
Ebenzer Edwards (A.)
Jonathan Whitmore ++
Edward Spooner ++
Daniel Cottle *
Ebenezer Hunt
From New Gloucester
Asa Witham *
Zebulon Davis
Daniel Lane +
Benjamin Yolin (A.)
From Portsmouth
Nathaniel Marshall
Benjamin C. Stubbs
Jacob Nutter
George Triffering
Benjamin Babb +
John Abbott ++
Joseph Shilaby (A.)
Guppy Studley
From Kittery, N. H.
Samuel Stacey (P. J.) 
Joshua Casual 
John Foster *
Hugh Kenniston +
Peter Tobey
John Perkins
William Lewis
Richard Sowards
Nathaniel Kennard (P. J.)
Stephen Lawley
Samuel Fletcher (P. J.)
Thomas Mahoney (P. J.)
Winthrop Willey
Jacob Brewer
Daniel Knight (A.)
Nathaniel Staples
George Fernel
Ephraim Clark (A.)
John Gunnison (P. J.)
Samuel Scriggins *
From Berwick, N. H.
Tobias Weymouth
Gideon Warren *
Thomas Hammet (P. J.)
Thomas Rines *
Ebenezer Libbey
Ichabod Lord (P. J.)
Aaron Goodwin
John Higgins
Andrew Whittam
From Old York, N H.
James Sellers
Tobias Sellers
Timothy Harris
John Downs (P. J.)
From Windham
John Simpson (A.)
Andrew Templeton
From Cape Porpoise
John Burbank (P. J.)
Israel Lasedel
From Block Point
William Maxwell
Samuel Carroll (A.)
John Maddon (P. J.)
Joseph Burnham
Samuel Smith
From Boston, Mass
Joseph Clark, ++
John Bass ++ 
Robert Burgoyne +
Joseph Hatch *
From Cape Pursue
Nathaniel Porter
Jacob Wyman
From Hampton
Dr. Samuel Smith, +
Elisha Johnston
Ichabod Shaw
From Salem
James Lawrence,
From Ireland
Henry Barrett +
William Smith ++
William Horner ++
From Scotland
Adam Ladley +
From England
Clement Woodhouse +
From Virginia
William Ford ++
From Casco Bay
John McCoffrey
Isaac Leajor
From Marblehead
Bonner Darling *



ROLL OF MILL PRISON, PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND, FEBRUARY 7, 1779.

Sloop Charming Sally, taken January 16th, 1777.
From New Haven
Captain Francis Brown +
Refiter Griffin
Jonathan Hodgcare
William Woodward, +
From Long Island
Anthony Shomaker +
William Keys
From Millbury
Benjamin Powers
Arthur Bennett
Isaac George
From Gilford
Kirtland Griffin
From Dartmouth
Henry Wrightinton
Samuel Knast
John Hathaway
James Bounds
William Cuff
Prince Hall ++
Humphry Potter ++
Ebenezer Willis*
Absalom Nero *
Thomas Brightman
Silas Hathaway
From Martha's Vineyard
Joseph Fredrick
Thomas Chase
Jeremiah Luce
Thomas Luce
Abisha Rogers
Barzilla Crowell
Samuel Lambert
Manuel Swasey
John Lot * 
Cuff Scott ++
William Harden d/e
Eliphalet Rogers
From Hartford
James Dean, ++
From Carolina
Jacob Norris
From New York
Alexander Frazier ++
William Black
Henry Sheaf +
Phineas Smith +
William Vanderson ++
From Ireland
William Andrews ++
Thomas Welch ++
Bartley Barrell ++
From England
Benjamin Shakle *
William Creper ++
Francis Kirtland ++
William Carpenter ++
William Asburn ++
From Holland
John George Stamfield ++
John Daghan ++
From Scotland
Robert Richey ++ 
James Judson *

Lexington Prize, taken April, 1777. - Committed to prison June, 1777.
From Jersey
Nicholas Simpkin *
From Maryland 
William Stearns
From England
Thomas Haley
Benjamin Lockett ++
From Philadelphia
William Lane
From Ireland
John Gordon ++

Brigantine Fancy, taken August 7th, 1777.
From Newburyport
Captain John Lee +
Daniel Lane
John Bickford
William White
From Marblehead
Francis Salter +
William Laskey
Joseph Barker +
Thomas Barker +
Richard Goss
Nicholas Thorn
Samuel Beal
John Lio
James Fox
Thomas Mack +
Robert Swan +
John Swan +
Jonathan Bartlett
Samuel Hawley
Jacob Vickery
Nicholas Gardner
James Valentine *
John Crow
Elias Hart *
William Pickett
Robert Pierce
Robert Brown
Skillings Brooks
Thomas Horton
William Cole
Jacob Vickery, Jr
John Adams
Edmund Baden
Samuel Whitrong
Benjamin Masten
Michael Treffrey
Andrew Slyfield +
From Ipswich
Caesar Bartlett
Samuel Treadwell
Nathaniel Jones
Samuel Harris
Samuel Latham,
William Longfellow
Adams Choate
Daniel Goodhue
John Fowler *
Charles Barnes,
Joseph Fisher, Doct., +
From Sweden
William Lir
From England
Alex. Baxter
Luke Larcomb
Israel Matthews
Wm. Skinner +
Martin Shaw
From Scotland
Robert Stevenson
Thomas Salter

Brigantine Freedom's Prize, taken April 27th, 1777.
From Marblehead
John Demond
Stephen Demise
Thomas Brown +
Joseph Striker
Joseph Magery
Elias Vickery
William Brown
Nathaniel Stacey +
James Lyon
Jacob Lord +
Christian Codrer

Ship Reprisal's Prize, taken June 29th, 1777. Committed in August.
From Bristol
Thomas Norwood
Samuel Ross
From Virginia
Stafford Badan
Alex. Knell ++
From Ireland
Thomas Driver
From Baltimore
Charles Kneet
Thomas Runnells ++
From Philadelphia
Edwin Lewis ++
From Virginia
Daniel Acham +
From Ireland
Joseph McMullen

Sloop Hawk's Prize, taken April 13th, 1778. - Committed in October, 1778.
From Salem
John Picknall
John Haynes
John Deadman
John Foy
Wood Abrahams
From Boston
English Thomas

Schooner Hawk's Prize, taken September 18th, 1777. - Committed October 
16th.
From Manchester
Benjamin Leech
Abial Lee
From Marblehead
Moses Stacey
Thomas Wigger
Thomas Knowlton
Amherst Weight

Brigantine Lexington, taken September 19th, 1777.
From Boston
Captain Henry Johnston +
From Ireland
David Welch +
Arthur Kirk +
John Kennedy ++
Thos. Choulston ++
John Hopes
William Lee
Robert Ford
William Riley
Phil. McLoughlan
James Haze ++
Thomas Bradley
John Barry +
James Dick
Joseph Coulston ++
John Howard ++
Thomas Welch ++
Nicholas Chaise ++
Thomas Marley ++
Nath'I. Brennon ++
From Philadelphia
Andrew Grace ++
James Shields ++
Daniel Fagan ++
Jacob Crawford
Thomas Harvey
Francis Colburn ++
David Clark ++
Henry Bakeley ++
From Virginia
Richard Deal +
Henry Lawrence
From Providence
George Thayer
From England
John Chester
Thomas Lines ++
Matthew Clear ++
John Videan ++
Samuel Williams ++
John Davis ++
Joseph Wolt ++
Benj'n. Richardson ++
Edward Hart ++
From Scotland
George Morrison
Joseph Kennigton *
John Stewart ++
From New London
Samuel Hobble
From New Jersey
Aaron Twigley ++

Schooner Warren, taken December 29th, 1777. - Committed June, 1778.
From Salem
Captain John Ravel +
Samuel Foote
John Battan
- Smith
- Lander
Benjamin Bickett
Thomas Manning
Joseph Lambert
Stephen Waters
Jonathan Archer
John Jones
William Bright ++
Josiah Jordon
Clifford Crowningfield
Edward Yoling
Peter Harris
Thomas Majory
Samuel Townsend
Daniel Chubb
Richard Crispin
Samuel Knapp
John Underwood
Nathaniel Ward
John Batten, Jr.
Thomas Stephens
William Archer ++
From Beverly
Benjamin Chipman
From Haverhill
John Cushing, Doct.
From Bristol
Eben Bosworth
Sampson Simms 
From Rhode Island
Thomas Austin
Samuel Harris
William Clark
Edward Sisal
From Philadelphia
William Race ++
John Phillips +
Peter Merry
From Cape Ann
Joseph Ingersoll ++
From Boston
Robert McCleary ++
From Carolina
Ezekiel Canny ++

Schooner Black Snake, taken August 16th, 1777. - Committed March 12th, 
1778. 
From Marblehead
Captain William Lucran
From Rhode Island
John Wheeler
From North Carolina
John Buckley

Ship Oliver Cromwell, taken May 19th, 1777. - Committed October 18th, 1777.
From Ireland
Patrick McCann
John Dority
James Lawny ++
John Adair
From Maryland
Richard Price
From New Jersey
William Hall +
From England
George Still +

Letter of Marque Janey, taken May 24th. - Committed August 19th.
From Virginia
Captain George Rolls +
George Watkins

Brigantine Cabots Prize, taken October 24th, 1776. - Committed June, 1777.
From Philadelphia
Peter Cassenbury 
From Rhode Island
Paul Magee
From Virginia
David Covel

True Blue, taken January 3d. - Committed August 20th, 1778.
From Marblehead
Peter Janes

Brigantine Ranger's Prize, taken August 23d, 1778.
From Rhode Island
Charles Sherman

Merchantman Sweet Lucretia, taken July 5th. - Committed October 16th, 1778.
From Casco Bay
James Horton
From Boston
Samuel Lewis

Schooner Musquito, taken and committed.
From St. Martin's
William Dayton ++
From England
Captain John Martin ++
William Morris +

Sturdy Beggars Prize, taken October, 1776. - Committed June, 1777. 
From Salem
George Southard
From Marblehead
Philip Misseroy
James Richardson

Revenge's Prize, taken August 2d.
From Philadelphia
William Hessam
From Casco Bay
William Fowler
From Newport
Daniel Willet


Number taken . . . . . 380
Number committed . . . 364