Loading your reading…

The Life and Adventures of Rear-Admiral John Paul Jones, Commonly Called Paul JonesAbbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)

History

The Life and Adventures of Rear-Admiral John Paul Jones, Commonly Called Paul Jones

Name: The Life and Adventures of Rear-Admiral John Paul Jones, Commonly Called Paul Jones
Author: Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)

Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)

Jones, John Paul, 1747-1792

As this exhibition of the character of Admiral Jones is somewhat
different from that which has been presented in current literature, I
have felt the necessity of sustaining the narrative by the most
unquestionable documentary evidence. Should any one, in glancing over
the pages, see that the admiral is presented in a different light from
that in which he has been accustomed to view him, I must beg him, before
he condemns the narrative, to examine the proof which I think
establishes every statement.

The admiral had his faults. Who has not? But on the whole he was one of
nature’s noblemen. His energies were sincerely and intensely devoted to
the good of humanity. He was ambitious. But it was a noble ambition, to
make his life sublime. He was a man of pure lips and of unblemished
life. His chosen friends were the purest, the most exalted, the best of
men. He had no low vices. Gambling, drinking, carousing, were abhorrent
to his nature. He was a student of science and literature; and in the
most accomplished female society he found his social joy. While forming
the comprehensive views of statesmenship and of strategy, and evincing
bravery unsurpassed by any knight of romance, he was in manners,
thought, and utterance, as unaffected as a child.

                                                  JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.




                               CONTENTS.

                             --------------


                              CHAPTER I.
                                                                 PAGE
                 _The Early Life of John Paul Jones._

  His Birth and Childhood.—Residence and Employments in
    Scotland.—His Studious Habits.—First Voyage to
    America.—Engaged in the Slave Trade.—Reasons for
    Abandoning it.—False Charges against him.—His
    Sensitiveness to Obloquy.—Espouses the Cause of the
    Colonies.—Developments of Character.—Extracts from his
    Letters.                                                        9

                              CHAPTER II.
                          _The Infant Navy._

  Rescuing the Brigantine.—Commissioned as Captain.—Escape
    from the Solway.—Conflict with the Milford.—Adventures at
    Canso and Madame.—Return with Prizes.—Expedition to Cape
    Breton.—Wise Counsel of Jones.—Brilliant Naval
    Campaign.—Saving the Prizes.—Value of the Mellish.—Mission
    to France.—Disappointment.—Sails with the Ranger.              32

                             CHAPTER III.
                     _Bearding the British Lion._

  Aid from France.—Plan for the Destruction of the British
    Fleet.—The American Flag Saluted.—Bold Movement of Captain
    Jones.—Cruise along the Shores of England.—Capture of
    Prizes.—Salutary Lessons given to England.—Operations in
    the Frith of Clyde.—At Carrickfergus.—Attempt upon the
    Drake.—Burning the Shipping at Whitehaven.—Capture of the
    Plate of Lord Selkirk.                                         56

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Life and Adventures of Rear-Admiral John Paul Jones, Commonly Called Paul Jones

No reviews yet