XII.—The Return to America.
On the 18th of December, 1780, nearly a year after he had received his orders, Jones sailed for America. He arrived in Philadelphia on February 18th, 1781. When Congress inquired into the cause of his long delay, he gave explanations which seemed to be satisfactory. Resolutions of thanks were passed, and permission given to the French minister to present the Cross of Military Merit, which had been sent by the French king.
This cross was presented with great ceremony, and it was ever after a source of much pride to Paul Jones. He wore it upon all occasions and loved to be called Chevalier.
During the following year Paul Jones superintended the construction of a new war ship, the America, which was being built by Congress.
This was the largest seventy-four gun ship in the world, and he was to be her captain.
Once more Paul Jones was disappointed. Before the America was finished, Congress decided to give her to France. She was to replace a French vessel, which had been lost while in the American service.
Paul Jones was again without a ship. As he could not bear to be idle, he spent the time until the close of the war, with a French fleet, cruising among the West Indies.
As soon as he heard that peace was declared between England and America, he left the French fleet and returned to America. He arrived in Philadelphia in May, 1783.
Now that the war was over, and there was no more fighting to be done, Paul Jones thought that the best thing for him to do was to get the prize money still due from the French government for the vessels he had captured.
For this purpose, he soon returned to France. After many delays the money, amounting to nearly $30,000, was paid to him. It was to be divided among the officers and crews of the ships which he had commanded.
Paul Jones came again to America in 1787 to attend to the final division of this money.
While in this country, Congress ordered a gold medal to be presented to him for his services during the war.