The inhabitants of the Yorkshire coast were frequently, about the year 1779, thrown into a state of alarm by that intrepid Anglo-American buccanier, Paul Jones. This man had formerly been in the service of the earl of Selkirk, whence he was expelled with disgrace, and having repaired to America he volunteered to make a descent on the British coast. Being entrusted with the command of a privateer, he effected a landing at Whitehaven, and set fire to some shipping in the arbour. He sailed for Scotland, where he landed on the estate of the earl of Selkirk, and plundered his lordship's house of all the plate. These services insured his promotion, and procured him the command of the Bon Homme Richard, and the Alliance, each of 40 guns; the Pallas, of 32 guns; and the Vengeance, armed brig. With this force he made many valuable captures, insulted the coast of Ireland, and even threatened the city of Edinburgh. On Monday, the 20th Sept. 1779, an express arrived at Bridlington, from the bailiffs of Scarborough, with intelligence that an enemy was cruising off the coast. On Thursday a valuable fleet of British merchantmen from the Baltic, under the convoy of the Serapis, Capt. Pearson, of 44 guns, and the Countess of Scarborough, Capt. Piercy, of 22 guns, hove in sight, and were chased by the enemy. The first care of Capt. Pearson was to place himself between the enemy and his convoy; by which manœuvre he enabled the whole of the merchantmen to escape into the port of Scarborough. About half-past seven o'clock the thunder of the cannon announced that an engagement had commenced; the battle raged with unabated fury for two hours, when at length Capt. Pearson, who was engaged by the two largest of the enemy's ships, was compelled to surrender. Capt. Piercy, after a long and gallant defence, was in the end obliged to strike to the Pallas. The enemy purchased the victory at a prodigious price, more than 300 men being killed or wounded in the Richard alone, which vessel received so much injury, that she sunk next day with many of the wounded on board.
Capt. Pearson afterwards received the honour of knighthood; and the freedom of the borough of Scarborough was presented to him and his gallant colleague, Capt. Piercy, in two boxes of "heart of oak," ornamented with silver.
Come each loyal Briton of courage so bold,
As annals can show you would ne'er be controul'd,
It vexes my patience I'm sure night and day,
To think how that traitor Paul Jones got away.
Derry down, &c.
As soon as this rebel near our shore did come,
From all parts of the town the inhabitants run,
They all stood amazed his fire to see,