There is something pathetic in the picture of the "Ancien Contre-Amiral," in his faded Continental uniform and the proud independence of his old age; and perhaps after all we may charitably attribute his colossal blunders to insanity and incompetency rather than to malice or treachery.
[Footnote 43]: Negotiations on this claim were protracted for over sixty years. In June, 1847, the Danish Government formally and finally denied the validity of the claim, and it has not been paid. Congress, however, on March 21, 1848, provided for the payment of the prize money involved, to the heirs of Paul Jones and other persons entitled to share in the distribution of the fund.
[Footnote 44]: The rouble was then worth about one dollar, and, as has been mentioned, a dollar was greater then than now.
[Footnote 45]: In after years Jones indorsed upon this letter a grim comment: "Has he kept his word?"
[Footnote 46]: Some authorities say fourteen; the difference is immaterial.
[Footnote 47]: All dates given, except in letters, are new style, eleven days in advance of Russian dates.
[Footnote 48]: This is a mistake, he was never a vice admiral.
[Footnote 49]: Old style.
[Footnote 50]: Nassau was then in command of the Russian fleet in the Baltic, and an encounter with him--had a Swedish command been tendered Jones, and if he could have accepted it--would have been interesting. There would have been a final demonstration, which probably would have convinced even Nassau, as to the merits of the rival commanders in the Liman. Nassau, by accepting the advice of the English and other foreign officers associated with him, succeeded with a superior force in beating the Swedes, whereupon honors were showered upon him--more land, more peasants, more roubles, more rank. His favor was higher than ever; but he was magnificently beaten a short time after by a very inferior Swedish fleet, and his defeat was as decisive as it was disgraceful. He lost fifty-three vessels, fourteen hundred guns, and six thousand men. He had refused to take anybody's advice on this occasion and had conducted the battle himself. His cowardice and incapacity therefore were entirely apparent. He tried to attribute this defeat, which compelled Catherine to make peace upon terms not advantageous to her, to the cowardice of the Russians whom he commanded. The Russians were not cowards. He fell from favor, left the court, and passed the remainder of his life on his estate in Poland in the society of his homely but devoted wife. It is to be hoped that she made things interesting for him, but it is hardly likely. He died in obscurity and poverty in 1809, unregretted and forgotten.
[Footnote 51]: A portion was subsequently paid to his heirs by the French Government.