One of the most striking features of the American naval service during the war of the Revolution was its irregularity. There was a navy continuously in existence, but the services rendered by individual men and ships were extremely irregular. It has already been told how John Paul Jones, after his successful cruise to the Cape Breton waters, had to remain idle for many months. After his famous cruise in the _Ranger_ he was again idle until the king of France furnished him a ship. Captain Gustavus Connyngham, who gained such a reputation in the _Surprise_ and the _Revenge_ on the British coasts, was actually obliged to seek service in a privateer, after his return to port, for lack of other employment. Jones had an excellent offer to do this also, but he refused on the ground that he was not fighting for money, but for the “Honour of the American flag.” If men like Jones and Connyngham were left to shift for themselves, and without pay at that, it follows that others were treated in like manner. The cause of this condition of affairs is readily found by the student in the method of caring for the navy adopted by the Congress. It was a method in keeping with a deal of the work done then. First, there was a Marine Committee of the Congress to buy ships and send them on a single “cruise eastward.” Later, there was a Marine Board, part congressmen and part plain citizens, “but no two of whom shall be from the same State.” There was a “Continental Naval Board.” There was a “Board of Admiralty.” There were naval agents. The powers and duties of all these were changed so often that no one can follow them in less space than a large volume, and a more wearying volume than that would be is difficult to imagine. There was, in short, an utter lack of system in naval affairs throughout the whole Revolution. Worse yet, the Congress was as lacking in funds as in system. The first result of this state of affairs was to prevent the development of an _esprit de corps_ among the officers. As already told, Capt. Thomas Thompson of the _Raleigh_ ran away and left the _Alfred_ to her fate when the _Ariadne_ and _Ceres_ overhauled her. When John Paul Jones was towing the _Drake_ into Brest he saw a sail, and left the _Drake_ for a time to examine the stranger. While he was away the American officer in the _Drake_ tried to carry her off to another port, hoping to get her fitted out and sent on a cruise with himself in command, independent of Captain Jones. The list of offences of this class--the clashing of officers where they would in this day stand shoulder to shoulder--is distressingly long. Another very serious result of the mismanagement was in the effect on the common sailors. It was very difficult to get men for the national ships, because the life on the privateers was more to their liking, and the chances of getting prize money very much greater.