“After the Carpinters as well as Captain De Cottineau and other men of Sense had well examined and Surveyed the Ship (which was not finished before five in the Evening) I found every person to be convinced that it was Impossible to keep the B. _h._ R. afloat So as to reach a port if the Wind should increase it being then only a very moderate breeze. I had but little time to remove my Wounded, which now became unavoidable and which Was effected in the Course of the night and next morning. I was determined to keep the B. _h._ R. afloat and, if possible, to bring her into port for that purpose the first Lieutenant of the _Pallas_ continued on board with a party of men to attend the pumps with boats in Waiting ready to take them on board in Case the water should gain on them too fast the Wind augmented in the Night and the next day on the 25, So that it was Impossible to prevent the good old ship from Sinking. they did not abandon her till after nine o’clock. the Water was then up to the Lower deck, and a little after ten I saw With inexpressible grief the last glimpse of the B. _h._ R.” [Illustration: John Paul Jones. _From a very rare engraving at the Navy Department, Washington._] The _Bonhomme Richard_ had gone into the fight with a great American ensign, four times as long as it was broad, floating in the breeze. It was shot away during the conflict and lay floating over the stern for a time, but it was rescued. And when it was seen that the old ship was past saving, the battle-torn flag was hoisted to its old place, and with that fluttering in the brisk air the famous old ship sank out of sight. [Illustration: John Paul Jones. _From an engraving by Chapman in the collection of Mr. W. C. Crane._] When John Paul Jones arrived at Texel on October 3d a British squadron was close behind him. Sending in to the Dutch admiral, he asked permission to anchor in the harbor. The Dutch were not then at war with the English, and their admiral, influenced by the attitude of the Dutch court, which was not friendly to the Americans, refused the permission, but later he grudgingly granted it, and the Americans arrived in after a narrow escape.