“Though I am extremely sensible of the favorable reception with which I have been distinguished at this court, and am particularly flattered by the polite attentions with which you have honored me, at every conference, yet I have remarked with great concern, that you have never led the conversation to the object of my mission here.
“A man of your liberal sentiments will not therefore be surprised, or offended at my plain dealing, when I repeat that I impatiently expect a prompt and categorical answer, in writing, from this court to the Act of Congress of the 25th of October last. Both my duty, and the circumstances of my situation, constrain[constrain] me to make this demand in the name of my sovereign the United States of America.
“But I beseech you to believe that though I am extremely tenacious of the honor of the American flag, yet my personal interests in the decision I now ask, would never have induced me to present myself at this court. You are too just, sir, to delay my business here, which would put me under the necessity to break the promise I have made to her imperial majesty, conformable to your advice.”
To this very decisive communication the minister returned an answer full of compliments and full of evasions. The king had no money to spare. Yet he was very desirous of securing the friendship of the United States, that he might enter into a commercial treaty, which would be of great benefit to Denmark. Amidst a vast mass of verbiage the commodore was informed that the king thought it best to defer a final settlement until the Constitution of the United States was fully established; that a settlement could only be made with an ambassador invested with plenipotentiary powers; and that, as the negotiations were commenced with the United States ministers in Paris, it was not expedient to transfer the seat of the suspended negociation from Paris to Copenhagen. In conclusion, he begged Commodore Jones to assure the government of the United States of the cordial esteem of the king of Denmark, of the earnest desire of his majesty to form connexions solid, useful and essential with this country, and to assure the government that when the proper time came, nothing should be allowed to retard the conclusion of an amicable settlement of a question, already so far advanced toward a solution. Under these circumstances, the only thing to be done was to transfer the business to Mr. Jefferson. This enabled him immediately to enter upon the service of the Empress of Russia. In his letter, on this occasion, to Mr. Jefferson, he wrote:
“If I have not finally concluded the object of my mission it is neither your fault nor mine. The honor is now reserved for you to display your great abilities and integrity by the completion and improvement of what Dr. Franklin had wisely begun. I rest perfectly satisfied that the interests of the brave men I commanded will experience in you, parental affection, and that the American flag can lose none of its lustre, but the contrary, while its honor is confided to you.
“While I express, in the warm effusions of a grateful heart, the deep sense I feel of my eternal obligations to you, as the author of the honorable prospect that is now before me, I must rely on your friendship to justify to the United States the important step I now take conformable to your advice.
“I have not forsaken a country that has had many and disinterested proofs of my affection. And I can never renounce the glorious title of a citizen of the United States. It is true that I have not the express permission of the sovereignty to accept the offer of her imperial majesty. Yet America is independent, is in perfect peace, and has no public employment for my military talents.
“The prince royal sent me a messenger requesting me to come to his apartment. His royal highness said a great many civil things to me; told me that the king thanked me for my attention and civil behavior to the Danish flag, while I commanded in the European seas; and that his majesty wished to testify to me his personal esteem.”
It is said that Jones was offered a pension from the Danish government of fifteen hundred crowns a year. Jones, however, never mentioned this circumstance to any of his most familiar correspondents. There is no evidence that he ever received one dollar of this money, but, on the contrary, much evidence that he never received any.
The commodore repaired to St. Petersburg. He was received by the empress with more flattering attentions than the court had ever before conferred upon any stranger. The empress immediately conferred upon him the rank of rear-admiral. He was detained in the capital, contrary to his wishes, a fortnight, where he was introduced to the first circles of society, feasted and caressed. Jones, speaking of this reception, writes to Lafayette: