“This known scarcity of commanders could not fail to attract the attention of foreign adventurers, who had acquired any experience and reputation in maritime affairs. Of this number was the English pirate and renegado, Paul Jones, who had rendered himself so notorious in the American war by the mischiefs he did to the trade of his country, and whose desperate courage, which only served to render his atrociousness conspicuous, would in a good cause have entitled him to honor.
“This man could not but experience the common fate incident to his character; and finding he did not meet the consideration which he expected in America, he made a tender of his services to the court of St. Petersburg, where he was gladly received, and immediately appointed to a high command in the grand fleet which was under equipment at Cronstadt.
“The British officers, full of those national and professional ideas of honor which they had imbibed in their own country and service, considered this appointment as the highest affront that could be offered to them, and a submission to it, an act of such degradation that no time or circumstance could wipe away the dishonor. They accordingly went in a body, to the amount of near thirty, without a single dissentient lagging behind, or hesitating on account of inconvenience or personal distress, to lay down their commissions; declaring at the same time that it was impossible for them to serve under, or to act in any manner or capacity whatever, with a pirate or renegado.”
In the same spirit as the above, the English historians have, from that day to this, written of this noble man.
On the 18th of September, the admiral received a secret order to attack the advance guard of the squadron which was anchored near Beresane. The attack was to be made with five frigates, mounted as batteries, supported by a few other vessels of the squadron, as reserves. The arrangements which were made for arming the frigates for the enterprise were not such as he could approve. For instance, twenty-four pound-shot were to be used in guns of thirty-six pounds calibre. To make these balls fill the bore, they were dipped in pitch to enlarge their circumference. This was exceedingly dangerous. If the smallest particle of combustible matter adhered to the gun, it would set fire to the next cartridge. A single such accident would paralyze the energies of the bravest man.
The admiral presented to Potemkin a plan of attack. The Prince Potemkin approved the plan. The Prince of Nassau objected to it. There were delays, and fault-findings; the admiral being ready to move, either upon his own plan or upon any other whenever the command should be given him.
On the 13th of October, the admiral received an order which wounded him very deeply. It was as follows:
“As it is seen that the Turkish admiral has a greater number of vessels than yourself, and he may resolve to attempt something before quitting his grand fleet, I must request your excellency to hold yourself in readiness to receive him courageously, and drive him back. I require this to be done without loss of time; if not, you will be made answerable for every neglect. I have already ordered the flotilla to approach.
”Prince Potemkin.”
To these unkind words the admiral replied in his journal: