John Paul Jones Return to
Scotland
Nor was this all. He immediately crossed to his
native shore of Scotland, with the intention of seizing
the Earl of Selkirk, at his seat on the promontory of
St. Mary's Isle, on the Solway, near Kirkcudbright.
Landing at the spot he ascertained that the earl was
from home. Disappointed in his object, he would have
returned, when the officers in his boat insisted upon a
demand for the family plate. Jones demurred, but yielded
with the proviso that the was to be done in the most
delicate manner possible. His lieutenant, Simpson,
undertook the business, and introduced himself to Lady
Selkirk, who was, conveniently enough for his purposes,
engaged at breakfast. She had at first taken the party
for a press-gang, and had offered them refreshments; on
being informed of the nature of their visit, their
request, backed by the armed crew at the door, was
complied with.
It is said that Jones apologized personally to Lady
Selkirk, and we shall presently find him, at the first
interval of leisure, taking measures to repair the act.
For the moment, however, he had more serious work on
hand. In his upward voyage along the Irish coast, he had
looked into Belfast Lough, after his Majesty's
sloop-of-war Drake, of twenty guns, which he attempted
to board in a night attack by a bold manoeuvre, which
came within an ace of success. Immediately after the
affair of St. Mary's, he ran across the channel and had
the fortune to meet the Drake coming out of
Carrickfergus. She was getting to sea to check the
exploits of the Ranger, which had now alarmed the whole
region. Jones desired nothing more than an encounter. As
the ship drew up she hailed the Ranger. Jones gave the
reply through his sailing-master: "The American
continental ship Ranger. We are waiting for you. Come
on. The sun is little more than an hour high, and it is
time to begin!" A broadside engagement commenced,
and continued at close quarters for an hour, when the
Drake surrendered. Her captain and first lieutenant were
mortally wounded, her sails and rigging terribly cut up,
and hull much shattered. The loss of the Ranger was 2
killed and 6 wounded; that of the Drake, 42. The Drake
had two guns the advantage of her adversary. The action
took place on April 24th; on May 8th, Jones having
traversed the channel, carried his prize safely into
Brest.
His first thought now was to make some amends to Lady
Selkirk and his own reputation for the plundering visit
of his lieutenant. He therefore addressed to her, the
very day of his landing, an extraordinary letter--Jones
was fond of letter-writing--full of high-sounding
phrases, and professions of gallantry and esteem, in the
midst of which he failed not to recite the splendid
victory of the Ranger. He drew a picture of the terrors
inflicted by the British in America; and in respect to
that unfortunate plate, expressed his intention to
purchase it, in the sale of the prize, and restore it at
his own expense to the family. This, after delays and
obstacles, he finally accomplished some years later,
when we are told it was all returned as it was taken,
the very tea-leaves of the parting breakfast clinging to
the tea-pot.
top
Introduction
| Apprenticeship
| Early Adventures
| Return To Scotland
| His Greatest Exploits
| Service in France
< about this site > |
