What has been said here about the exploits of other naval heroes in the Revolution is used merely as a foil for the better setting off of the great central figure of the navy of that period. What Biddle, Wickes, Conyngham, Thompson, Hinman, and the American privateersmen did separately, Jones did as one man.
After taking as commendable a part as a subordinate could in the successful expedition to New Providence, he commanded the warship Providence, and performed some of the most remarkable feats in seamanship on record, besides inflicting serious losses on the enemy. As commander of the Alfred, in which he began his American career as lieutenant, he added to his reputation as a daring and successful skipper. In the Ranger he cruised in the Irish Sea with a boldness and success that has never been surpassed, while his extraordinary career in the Bonhomme Richard stands unsurpassed in the annals of the world’s naval history. Within the scope of his necessarily limited naval activities, he has set a standard of professional excellence that present and coming generations of naval aspirants will find difficult to surpass.
Edgar S. Maclay.
Evening Post, N. Y.
THE MOONLIGHT BATTLE
We have much pleasure in presenting our subscribers with the first engraving of Thomas Birch’s painting of John Paul Jones’ greatest sea-fight.
It illustrates the desperate encounter at the moment when a hand-grenade has been dropped from the Bon Homme’s mainyard down a hatchway of the Serapis, causing a terrible explosion.
In the distance can be seen the British merchant vessels, under the protection of the guns of Scarborough Castle, as also the conflict between the Pallas,—the only other ship of Jones’ squadron actively engaged,—and the Countess of Scarborough, which also ended in the defeat of the British vessel.
For the use of the plate we are indebted to the kindness of Mr. S. V. Henkels, Philadelphia.