When cruising off Cape Finisterre, the extreme northwesterly cape of Spain, he encountered a very severe storm. This led him to run for shelter into the Spanish port of Corunna, where there was a fine harbor. I may remark, in passing, that this Corunna subsequently became renowned in history. Southey writes:
“Its filth is astonishing. Other towns attract the eye of the traveller. But Corunna takes his attention by the nose.”
This place became famous in the struggle between Spain and Napoleon I. To this point Sir John Moore was fleeing in his disastrous retreat before Napoleon, and near its walls he fell. The poet has immortalized the event in the sublime ode, upon his burial by moonlight.
“Not a drum was heard, nor a funeral note,
As his corpse to the ramparts we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot,
O’er the grave where our hero was buried.”
At Corunna Commodore Jones was very kindly received by the Spanish authorities. He remained in port twelve days, making sundry needful repairs. Upon the evening of his arrival he wrote to Lafayette:
“I made my passage safe through the Channel in spite of all their cruising ships and squadrons; and had the pleasure of looking at them in the Downs, and in passing in sight of the Isle of Wight. I steered this way in hopes of meeting some of their cruisers off Cape Finisterre, but am hitherto disappointed.”
On the 28th of January, 1780, he again set sail, and after the unsuccessful cruise of a fortnight, entered the harbor of L’Orient, in France, on the 13th of February. This strongly fortified French port is seated at the head of the bay Port Louis, about three miles from the ocean. Here he learned that he was accused of cherishing a strong dislike for the French people. In reply to this rumor he wrote to the Marquis de Lafayette, under date of February 18th, 1780.