Both of them entered into conversation with the two Americans. Never were two men more congenial in general tastes and opinions than the excellent Louis and the great Franklin. Louis admired Franklin’s genius, and Franklin respected the king, who, although his youth was spent in the most corrupt court in the world, yet grew up honest, temperate, and moral. The beauty and enthusiasm of the young queen deeply impressed Paul Jones. Little did he then think that lovely head would one day fall under the axe of the guillotine!
The king’s chief attention, though, was bestowed upon Paul Jones, whom he had long desired to meet.
“I wish to thank you,” he said, “for the very noble and interesting account of your glorious cruise, that you wrote out at my request. But, after all has been said, I am yet constrained to ask you, how could you have accomplished the capture of the Serapis in the face of such enormous odds?”
“By hard fighting, sire,” responded Paul Jones, with a smile; and the king and the lovely queen both smiled at the manly simplicity of the answer. The king then said:
“I understand that the British have tried Captain Pearson by court-martial, and, considering the fact that he defended himself for five hours against Commodore Paul Jones, they have not only acquitted him, but have made him a baronet besides. He is now Sir Richard Pearson.”
“Sire,” answered Paul Jones, “if I have the good fortune to meet him again, I will make him a lord!”
At this the king laughed heartily, and repeated it to the queen; and from that Paul Jones’s bon mot went the rounds of Europe.
As they were about to leave, the king said to Paul Jones: “It is my intention to show in some marked manner my approval of your brilliant conduct and my appreciation of so brave an ally, and I design that you shall receive it in your own country and among the plaudits of your fellow-citizens. But all Europe will know it as well.”
Paul Jones bowed his thanks, while Dr. Franklin, in a few words, expressed the gratitude the American Government and people would feel at honors bestowed to their foremost naval hero. Then, with profound and respectful bows, they left the presence of royalty.
Paul Jones’s popularity was still further increased by these marks of kingly favor, and he became the fashion with the nobility and the court people. No assembly was complete without him, and “le brave capitaine,” as he was called, was surrounded by brilliant men and beautiful women whenever he appeared in society. But what chiefly pleased Paul Jones was the popular regard the masses had for him, and the attentions paid him by the French naval and military men. These, indeed, penetrated his soul. In a very little while the honors alluded to by the king were announced to Paul Jones through the Minister of Marine, M. de Sartine. A magnificent gold-hilted sword, inscribed “Vindicati Maris Ludovicus XVI Remunerator strenuo vindici,” was presented him, and the extraordinary honor of the cross of the Order of Military Merit, which had never before been given to any but a Frenchman. This last, however, he could not accept, as an American officer, without the permission of Congress, and therefore the cross was sent, with a most flattering letter to the French minister at Philadelphia, with directions that Congress be asked to allow Paul Jones to accept it—which permission was afterward enthusiastically granted.