one will read "The Pilot," without feeling some interest and curiosity respecting the mysterious character who forms the prominent feature in the tale; and that particulars, however scanty, will be acceptable, of a man who for a time kept the coasts of the united kingdom in a state of alarm; for, although his name is cautiously withheld, there are allusions to acts and circumstances which can apply to none but the once celebrated Paul Jones.

He was born and bred on the estate of Lord Selkirk, near Kirkudbright; his father, by name Paul, a steady methodical Scotchman, being head gardener to Lord Selkirk, and young Paul acting in a subordinate capacity in the same establishment, as appears from the following story on record of father and son. In the gardens were two summer houses corresponding with each other. One day Lord Selkirk during his walks observed a man locked up in one of them, and looking out of the window-in the other summer house, looking out of the corresponding window appeared young John Paul. "Why are those lads confined ?" said Lord Selkirk to the gardener. "My Lord, I caught the rascal stealing your lordship's fruit." "But there are two what has your son done, is he too guilty?" "Oh no, please your lordship, I just put him in for symmetry." In this service he remained for some years; but at length, being detected in certain knavish tricks which would have entitled him to confinement in the summer house on stronger grounds than symmetry, he was dismissed, and following the bent of a wild and ardent disposition, betook himself to a sea-faring life, for which his habits, and the practical knowledge gained by a long residence near a sea port, had fully prepared him. He commenced his naval career as a common sailor; but his talents soon rendering him conspicuous, he was appointed mate, and in this capacity made several voyages to the West Indies, where he finally became master of a vessel. Soon after the rupture between this country and Ame

in New-England, he was induced to desert his national colours and enlist under those of the revolutionists, prompted partly by a vindictive spirit, and partly by the predatory prospects offered by the approaching war-at the same time changing his name from John Paul to Paul Jones.

For this new sphere of action his enterprizing character and talents were admirably adapted; and these, added to his thorough knowledge of the northern coasts of England, soon brought him into notice, and pointed him out as a fit actor in the marauding schemes. then in agitation. Accordingly, in the latter part of 1777 he was actively employed as Commander, in fitting out the Ranger* privateer, mounting 18 guns, besides swivels, and manned with a desperate crew of 150 men. In the course of the winter he put to sea, and made two captures on the European side of the Atlantic, both of which were sent into a French port. In the month of April, 1778, he for the first time appeared in the neighbourhood of his native place, and forthwith proceeded to execute a well digested plan for burning the town and shipping of Whitehaven. Having made the land, he cautiously kept in the offing to avoid observation, but at the close of evening, the necessary preparations being made, he stood in for the shore, and at midnight, having approached sufficiently near, his boats well manned, and armed by thirty daring fellows, in deep silence pushed off from the vessel. small battery commanded the bay and entrance of the harbour; it was necessary to secure this before they could venture on ulterior measures; accordingly having made good their landing, the party rushed upon the garrison before any alarm could be given, and made them prisoners. The guns were immediately spiked, and every thing seemed to favour the final success of their enterprize. It was dead low water, and the vessels were laying side by side without a chance of preservation, should the flames once get head.

A

Lit

* In some accounts she is called the Revenge.

tle expecting such a visit, no watches were on the look out, and the inhabitants were buried in sleep. In full security and confidence the armed force dispersed themselves, depositing matches ready primed amidst combustibles on the decks and rigging. Nothing more was required for their destruction than the signal for lighting the trains. At this critical moment a loud knocking was heard in the main street, and voices of alarm were heard in every direction. It was evident that they were discovered, and nothing remained but to commence in haste the work of destruction, for the alarm had now be come general, and crowds were seen running towards the piers, attracted by the lights which the retiring party were hastily throwing on board the vessels; fortunately without effect, one only being seriously scorched, the crews and townsmen succeeded in extinguishing the flames before they 3 reached the rigging. Foiled in their attempt, the privateer's men regained their boats, and putting off, reached their ship in safety. On mustering one only of the party was missing, and to him were the people of White haven indebted for their preservation; for, influenced either by conscientious motives or self-interest, he quitted his companions when engaged about the harbour, and running up the main street, knocked at every door as he passed, roused the sleepers from their beds, called upon them to rise and save their lives and property.

Having failed in this enterprize, Jones stretched across the Solway Firth, towards the coast of Scotland, and with the early dawn entered the river Dee, forming the harbour of Kirkcudbright. A little above its junction with the sea the river widens into a sort of estuary, and here on a promontory, or rather island, where the river is about a mile and a half in width, stands St. Mary's Isle, the Castle of Lord Selkirk, and here, within a short distance of a spot endeared to him by the strongest ties and earliest associations, soon after sun-rise Jones dropped anchor, with feelings, if we may judge from the tenor of a letter which will be mentioned in the course

of the following narrative of that day's proceedings, very different from those which the public gave him credit for, proving that, with all his failings, his heart was still susceptible of impressions which might have raised him, as much as his unjustifiable deeds had hitherto lowered him, in the estimation of his countrymen. Early in the morning, the privateer had been observed making her way up the river, her guns and warlike appearance attracting much attention and curiosity, for vessels of her description were seldom seen working up the intricate passage of the Dee. Not a suspicion was entertained of her real character, but the male part of the population conjectured her to be a visitor equally unwelcome-a ship of war coming up for the purpose of impressment. Accordingly at an early hour (Lord Selkirk being fortunately in London), Lady Selkirk was informed of the circumstance, and a request was made by the men servants that they might absent themselves for the purpose of concealment. The vessel had no sooner anchored, than she was obseved to despatch an armed boat. The crew on landing seemed to have no particular object in view; and after remaining some time, strolling up and down the country, took to their boat and returned on board. Before, however, the people had recovered from their first alarm, the boat was again observed to push off, and in a few minutes a strong body of armed men landed on the beach without interruption; not as before did they stroll about, but, forming in regular order, marched directly to the castle, which they immediately surrounded, and then, for the first time, a suspicion of the real character of such unexpected visitors was excited. Lady Selkirk, who, with her children, were the only members of the family then resident in the castle, had just finished breakfast, when she received a summons to appear before the officer commanding the detachment; she obeyed with considerable fear, which was not diminished on a nearer view of the visitors, whose ferocious looks, and ragged dress, too plainly showed their hostile intentions; and, as it was evident that plunder was

their object, the worst might be expect ed, in case of resistance. They were armed with every variety of weapon; muskets, pistols, swords; and one savage looking fellow bore an American tomahawk over his shoulder. Two officers had the charge of the party; one of them coarse and rude in language and behaviour; the other, on the contrary, was not only courteous and respectful-but even apologized to Lady Selkirk, regretting the unpleasant duty in which it was his unfortunate lot to appear as a principal. Their first inquiry was for Lord Selkirk: on being assured that he was not in the country some disappointment was manifested. After a short pause, the latter officer said he must then request her Ladyship to produce all her plate. She replied, that the quantity in the castle was very small, but what there was should be immediately given up; and accordingly the whole was laid before them, even to the silver teapot used at breakfast which had not been washed out. The officer on receiving it directed his men to pack up every article, again apologizing for his conduct on an occasion which he called a dirty business, and then taking leave, at the head of his men returned to the vessel, leaving the family not a little rejoiced at their escape. Still, however, as the ship did not get under weigh, fears were entertained of a second visit, and Lady Selkirk lost no time in sending off her children, and removing whatever property was likely to become a source of temptation, to a place of security. Her fears were fortunately groundless, and in a few hours, she had the satisfaction of seeing the privateer under weigh without offering further molestation.

Some days afterwards she received a letter from Paul Jones himself, written in a romantic, almost poetical style, He entreated her pardon for the late affront, which he assured her was so far from being planned or sanctioned by him, that he had done every thing in his power to prevent its taking place; but his officers and crew insisted on the attempt, hoping to secure the person of Lord Selkirk, for whose ransom a considerable sum might be ex

pected. This he declared was the object of their first visit, and having failed in it, they returned on board, when, after some murmuring, they insisted on again landing and plundering the house. To this he was obliged to consent, though with great reluctance, adding, as a proof of his innocence, that he would endeavour to, purchase the plunder they had so disgracefully brought off, from the crew, and transmit (if not the whole) whatever he could procure, to her ladyship. Not hearing again for several years, all hope, of course, was given up of the fulfilment of his promise, when, to her great surprise, in the spring of 1783, the whole was returned, carriage paid, precisely in the same state in which it had been 'carried away, to all appearance never having been unpacked, the very tea leaves remaining in the tea-pot as they were left after the breakfast on the day of capture. The report of his landing, rapidly spread through the country, attended with every variety of exaggeration by the time it reached London. Lord Selkirk received it with the additional particulars, that his family were all made prisoners and his castle burnt to the ground. He imme diately hurried to the north, and it was not till he had gone half way that he learned the real truth. On clearing the land, Jones stood to the westward, and towards evening, making the Irish coast, entered Belfast Loch, capturing or burning as he proceeded several fishing boats. He was soon observed by Captain Burdon, of the Drake sloop of war, of 14 guns and 100 men ; conceiving the privateer to be a merchantman, a boat was despatched for the purpose of impressing her crew. coming alongside, the man of war's men immediately boarded, and were as immediately secured. Jones however did not think it prudent to persevere in his progress up the bay, in the presence of an armed vessel in the king's service, and accordingly put about. Captain Burdon's suspicions were immediately excited by this measure and the evident detention of his boat, and not a moment was lost in giving chace and clearing for action. On coming up with the enemy, Captain Burdon open

On

ed a spirited fire, but owing to the darkness of the night he was unable to continue it with effect, and the vessels separated. But as soon as it was light the engagement was gallantly renewed, and continued for upward of an hour, when Captain Burdon and his first lieutenant being killed, twenty of his crew disabled, a topmast shot away, and the ship dreadfully cut up, the Drake was compelled to surrender. During the action the prisoners on board the privateer, were kept in irons, but on its ceasing they were all sent on shore in the detained fishing boats. By this time, the coast on both sides of the Channel being generally alarmed, Paul Jones felt it unsafe to remain in that quarter, and therefore hastened with his prize towards Brest, which port he succeeded in making without interruption. On his arrival, he communicated the result of his cruize to Dr. Franklin, the American representative, then resident in Paris, and it has been generally supposed that the Doctor, so far from approving, strongly censured his piratical attack upon St. Mary's Isle, insisting on his restoring such unjustifiable plunder. That this representation is not true to the full extent, the fact of the abovementioned let ter, written a few days after the event, is a sufficient proof.

In the course of the following winter, he appears to have exchanged the command of the Ranger for a frigate of 40 guns and 370 men, called the Bon Homme Richard, acting as a commodore, with an additional force of the Alliance frigate, of 36 guns and 300 men, the Vengeance brig, of 14 guns and 70 men, and a cutter of 18 guns, all in the service of Congress; the Pallas, a French frigate of 32 guns and 275 men, was also added to the squadron.

Sailing from Port l'Orient in July 1779, he appeared off the coast of Kerry, where he landed a boat's crew in the hope of bringing off some sheep, but the country people assembling in defence of their property, secured the assailants, and sent them prisoners to Tralee jail. From thence he continued his course, and sailing north about, ran down the east coast of Scotland,

capturing in his passage many valuable prizes, amongst others a store ship from Quebec, all of which he ordered to France. On the 14th of September, they were off Dunbar, and seen to capture two prizes close in shore. No competent force was at that time in the north, of which he seems to have been perfectly aware, for, despatching the vessels of the squadron in different directions, he resolved on the bold and hazardous attempt of burning the shipping in Leith harbour, and collecting tribute from the defenceless towns on the Fifeshire coast; and, dashing up the Firth of Forth, he came in sight of Edinburgh on the evening of September 16. The wind blowing strong from the westward, and the tide running down, he came to an anchor under the island of Inch Keith, nearly opposite to Kirkcaldy; on the following morning he weighed, and endeavoured to beat up the Leith roads, but the breeze increasing to a gale, he sprung one of his top-masts, and was obliged to bear up, running down the Firth with such speed that he was soon out of sight. Foiled in his attempt, he rejoined his squadron, and proceeded to cruize off the coast of England, where on the 23d of September, he fell in with a British convoy from the Baltic, escorted by his Majesty's ship Serapis, Captain Pearson, of 44 guns, and Countess of Scarborough, armed ship of 20 guns, commanded by Captain Thomas Piercy, which meeting occasioned one of the most memorable actions ever recorded. Captain Pearson's conduct, is, indeed, beyond all praise. We give it to the reader in his own words-being an official communication to the Admiralty.

Captain's account of his capture-concluding with the remarks that two essential pieces of service

[Then follows in the London Magazine the British

to our country have arisen from it-the one in wholly oversetting the cruise and intentions of this flying squadron; the other in rescuing the whole of a valuable convoy from falling into the hands of the

enemy."]

The King was so well pleased with the behaviour of the two captains and their officers and men, that he conferred the honour of knighthood on Captain Pearson, and soon afterwards made Captain Piercy Post-Captain, and promoted the other officers. The service they had performed deserved