Honorable Robert Morris wished to give Commodore Jones command of a large, strongly built frigate called the South Carolina, then in the service of that State. This was the ship built at Amsterdam, called the Indian, the command of which was promised to him when he went to Europe. Either from the inability of the commissioners to pay for the ship, or from the remonstrances of England that a ship should be built in a neutral court to aid her insurgent colonies, the object was defeated. In some way the King of France came in possession of the ship, and having at that time no special use for it he loaned it to one of the prominent members of his court, the Chevalier de Luxembourg. He loaned it to South Carolina for three years, to guard her coasts, on condition that he should receive one-fourth of the proceeds of her prizes. It was placed under the command of Commodore Gillon, who, with a small fleet, was to protect the harbors of the State. He changed the name to the South Carolina. It was an uncommonly fast and formidable ship. Congress was anxious to get possession of it. As the Chevalier de Luxembourg had received no payment, though many prizes had been taken, he was dissatisfied, and very justly deemed the contract annulled. He therefore authorized the French minister at Philadelphia to coöperate with Mr. Morris in obtaining the surrender of the ship to the United States. Gillon heard of these movements, and escaped the legal process for seizing the ship, by suddenly putting to sea. The South Carolina had but just cleared the Capes of Delaware, when she was pounced upon and captured by three English frigates, the Diomede, the Astrea, and the Quebec, which had been stationed there to intercept her. Thus again were the hopes of Commodore Jones blighted. He had fully expected to take command of the South Carolina. It was certainly from no fault of his own that he was disappointed. A French fleet of ten sail of the line was then at Boston, on the eve of sailing for the West Indies. It was there to unite with a combined French and Spanish fleet, under Count d’Estaing. This formidable squadron, consisting of seventy vessels in all, with a strong land force, was to make a descent on the island of Jamaica, and wrest it from the English. Jones earnestly applied for permission to embark in this expedition. Ever eager to learn, and ever modestly conscious that he had much to learn, he hoped thus to become practically acquainted with the evolution of fleets on a scale so grand. His enthusiasm was aroused at the idea of witnessing so sublime a naval display. He also hoped, from his intimate acquaintance with those seas, to be able to render eminent assistance to Count d’Estaing. Mr. Morris applied to Congress, in behalf of Commodore Jones, that permission might be given him to join the expedition. In a very complimentary letter he wrote: