ferent parts, and it was with the greatest difficulty that 1779the fame could be extinguished. At half past nine, by some accident the Serapis had a cartridge of powder set on fire, the flames of which communicating from one to another all the way aft, blew up all the people and officers abaft the main maft, and rendered all those guns ufelefs for the remainder of the action. When both ships were on fire together, as it happened at times, the spectacle was dreadful beyond expreffion. The Alliance repeatedly failed round both while engaged, raking the Serapis fore and aft, and thereby killing or wounding many of her men on the quarter and main decks *. After ten fhe came up afresh, and renewed the fire; but through the darkness of the night, and both fhips being fo close along fide each other, it was not poured into the Serapis alone, but also into the Bon Homme Richard, eleven of whose men were killed, beside an officer mortally wounded, by one of her broadfides. Capt. Pearfon however, perceiving that it was impracticable to stand out any longer with the leaft profpect of fuccefs, ftruck after having (by his conduct and perfevering bravery) fecured to his convoy the opportunity of faving themselves. The Serapis was a much fuperior fhip to the Bon Homme Richard, being built on an excellent model, and carrying 44 guns in two tiers, the lower 18 pounders. The number of men killed * The account printed in the Courier de l'Europe of November 5, 1779, figned Paul Jones, ftates the matter fo as to imply a denial of what is afferted in the Gazette account, figned R. Pearfon; but from the known vanity of Jones, and the utter improbability of the Alliance's remaining totally inactive for fo long a time, it is highly reafonable to conclude, that the first account is erroneous. 1779. and wounded on each fide was neceffarily great. Both fhips fuffered much: but the Bon Homme Richard was reduced to a wreck: fhe had near feven feet water in her hold, which kept increafing. The wounded were removed, and only the firft lieutenant of the Pallas, with fome men left on board to keep the pumps going, while the boats were difpofed within call to take them in when occafion required. On the 25th, the water rose to her lower deck and she went down; but no body was loft with her *. It ftill remains to be mentioned, that the Countess of Scarborough engaged the Pallas for near two hours, when capt. Piercy was obliged to strike. Commodore Jones, with the remains of his flying fquadron and prizes, made for Holland, and on the 3d. of October anchored off the Texel. The commodore eftimates the prizes taken and ranfomed by the Bon Homme Richard, during her cruize, at more than 40,000!. O&. 29. Sir Jofeph Yorke foon applied to their high mightineffes for the delivering up of the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough. On the 29th of October, he presented a memorial to them, in which by his majefty's order, he renews," in the strongest and most preffing manner, his request that thofe fhips and their crews may be stopped and delivered up, which the pirate Paul Jones, of Scotland, who is a rebel fubject, and a criminal of the ftate, has taken." Jones is ftiled a pirate upon the fuppofition that his letters of marque or commiffion are illegal for want of being granted by a fovereign power, which the British do not allow the congrefs to be. But it may be at length discovered, that * Captain Jones's account, Jones's letters are legal upon their own principles, and 1779. have been granted by the French, whatever other letters he may poffefs. The whole of Jones's expedition was probably concerted at Versailles, with the defign of catching the eastern fleet laden with naval ftores, while the continental frigate the Alliance was borrowed for a cover, and the command of the whole given to Jones on account of his acquaintance with the Irish and British coafts. The memorial contains a threatening infinuation of serious confequences in cafe of non-compli¬ ance. The answer which their high mightineffes have given is in brief-"That they will, in no respect whatever, pretend to judge of the legality or illegality of the actions of those who have, on the open fea, taken any veffels which do not belong to this country, and bring them into any of the ports of this republic: that they only open their ports to them to give them thelter from ftorms or other disasters, and oblige them to put to fea again with their prizes, without unloading or difpofing of their cargoes, but letting them remain exactly as when they arrived and that they are not authorised to pass judgment either on these prizes, or the person of Paul Jones." What would be the fate of Jones could the British once make him their prifoner, is hard to determine; confidering that capt. Cunningham was brought in irons from New York to Falmouth and fent ironed to Pendennis caftle; from which, however, he was removed in a few weeks to Mill prifon, Plymouth; and being a native American, he is now rated as an exchangeable prifoner. The present state of Ireland must not be paffed over without notice. 1779 The long continued embargo on provifions, the only staple export of that kingdom, has been viewed as particularly infulting, and most highly resented by the people; on their reflecting, that a set of contractors reaped the greatest benefit from it, while the interest of the country was facrificed, and the whole nation distressed. Taxes became more numerous, and the national debt accumulated every, feffion of parliament. Advantage was taken of these circumftances, and the peculiar fituation of Great Britain, by the most fagacious among the Irish, for the obtaining of thofe privileges which might otherwise never be fecured. The doctrines of taxation without reprefentation, and of unconditional fubmiffion, which miniftry applied to America, were urged as matter of apprehenfion to Ireland; and it was openly faid, that the chains forged for the former, in cafe of fuccefs, would afford a mode for the fetters which would foon be fitted for the latter. The fmothered flame at length broke out with violence, on finding that parliament would afford them no effectual relief. Affociations against the purchase and ufe of British manufactures, and for the encouragement of their own, became univerfal. But befide thefe, there were affociations of a more effective and terrifying nature. Being alarmed with the danger of a French invafion, it was urged, that the defence of the kingdom must be placed in those who had the best interest in it. Military affociations were therefore proposed and univerfally adopted. The affociators declared, that they were intended for the double purpose of defending their fafety against foreign enemies, and their rights againft domeftic ufurpation. In every part of the kingdom were feen inftantly to arise, as if by magic, vaft bodies of citizens, ferving 1779. at their own charges, choosing their own officers, trained to great expertnefs, and obeying with remarkable regularity. No gentleman, no nobleman could fhow his face in the country, who did not fall in with the prevailing difpofition. Men of confiderable fortunes ferved in the ranks. All this bufinefs was accomplished without any fort of confufion or diforder; while the peace of the country, and obedience to the laws, were never more prevalent. The number of trained volunteers is fupposed to be about 50,000: they are admirably appointed. Government faw thefe proceedings with astonishment. They wished to regulate this new and unexpected force, and to bring it to act under the authority of the crown; but after a few feeble attempts, it was thought best to concur in a measure that could not be prevented. The Irish patriots having thus provided for the defence of the kingdom against foreign enemies, began to look toward their own rights; and in general difclaimed the authority of the British parliament over them, and condemned its interference in their affairs. On the 12th of October, the Irish parliament met. Upon a motion for the addrefs, in anfwer to the fpeech of the lord lieutenant, an amendment was moved and carried in the house of commons, which occafioned the infertion of the following words in their address to the throne-" We beg leave humbly to reprefent to your majefty, that it is not by temporary expedients, but by a free trade alone, that this nation is now to be faved from impending ruin." The addrefs from the lords contained fimilar expreffions. Thus it appears, that a free and unlimited commerce with the whole world is the fine qua non, with the patriots |