On the 10th of November, Jones sailed from Philadelphia, in the ship Washington. After a stormy wintry passage of twenty days, the ship, instead of making the French harbor of Havre, baffled by head winds in the Channel, ran into the English port of Plymouth. As Mr. Jones had important despatches for John Adams, then our minister at the court of St. James, he travelled post to London. Mr. Adams, after examining his documents, informed Commodore Jones that the despatches with which he was intrusted to Dr. Franklin, in Paris, probably contained authorization for Adams and Franklin to conclude a commercial treaty with England. It required a journey and voyage of five days for Jones to traverse the distance between London and Paris. Franklin received his old friend with great cordiality. Marshal de Castries was Minister of Marine, Count de Vergennes occupied another of the most important positions in the government. They both received Paul Jones with all those flattering attentions which render French society so fascinating. The Chevalier Luzerne had written to them both from Philadelphia, affectionately commending Paul Jones to their kind regards. With true French politeness they informed him that they had received such letters, but that they were entirely unnecessary. “We have no need of letters,” they said, “to inform us of the merits of Commodore Jones, or to influence us to do him justice.” There are different ways of doing things in this world; and certainly the courteous way is the most agreeable. England had denounced Commodore Jones as a pirate. Had England captured him, it is not improbable that he might have been hung like a pirate. Captain Pearson, who commanded the Serapis in the encounter with the Bon Homme Richard, was a brave man, perhaps a humane man, but coarse and vulgar, quite unacquainted with the courtesies which regulate the intercourse of gentlemen. As he presented his sword to Commodore Jones, the unmanly Briton said: “It is with great reluctance that I surrender my sword to a man who fights with a halter about his neck!” What reply should the commodore make to such an insult, which Pearson probably regarded merely as British pluck? Should he strike his unarmed and helpless prisoner? Should he soil his lips in a contest of blackguardism? His reply was noble. “Captain Pearson, you have fought like a hero. And I have no doubt that your sovereign will reward you for it in the most ample manner.”[D] ----- Footnote D: Life of Paul Jones, by Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, Vol. i, p. 195. ----- CHAPTER XII. _The Difficulties of Diplomacy._ Courteous Reception in Paris.—Compliment of the King.—Principles of Prize Division.—Embarrassing Questions.—Interesting Correspondence.—The Final Settlement.—Modest Claims of Commodore Jones.—Plan for a Commercial Speculation.—Its Failure.—The Mission to Denmark.—Return to America.