This hero of the American Revolution was born on the 6th of July, 1747, on the estate of Arbigland, in the parish of Kirkbean, Scotland. His father was a gardener, whose name was Paul, but the son assumed that of Jones, after his settlement in America. The birthplace of young Paul was a bold promontory1, jutting2 into the sea, and was well calculated to excite a love of the briny3 element, for which he soon displayed a decided4 predilection5.
At the age of twelve, he was bound apprentice6 to a[Pg 204] merchant of Whitehaven, in the American trade. He soon after went to sea, in a vessel7 bound for Virginia. While in port, he spent his time on shore with his brother William, who was a respectable planter in the colony. He devoted8 himself to the study of navigation and other subjects connected with the profession he had chosen. These he pursued with great steadiness, displaying those habits of industrious9 application, which raised him to the distinguished10 place he afterwards attained11. His good conduct secured him the respect of his employers, and he rose rapidly in his profession.
At the age of nineteen, he had become the chief mate of the Two Friends, a slave ship, belonging to Jamaica. At this period, the traffic in slaves was exceedingly profitable, and was followed without scruple12 or reproach by the most respectable merchants of Bristol and Liverpool. But young Paul had pursued this business for only a short time, when he became so shocked and sickened at the misery13 which it inflicted14 upon the negroes, that he left it forever in disgust.
In 1768, he sailed from Jamaica for Scotland, as a passenger. Both the master and mate dying of fever on the voyage, he assumed the command, and arrived safely at port. Gratified by his conduct, the owners placed him on board the brig John, as master and supercargo, and despatched him to the West Indies. He made a second voyage in the same vessel, during which he inflicted punishment on the carpenter, named Maxwell, for mutinous15 conduct. As Maxwell died of fever, soon after, Paul was charged, by persons who envied his rising reputation, with having[Pg 205] caused his death by excessive punishment. This has been since abundantly disproved. Paul continued some time in the West India trade, but in 1773, he went to Virginia to arrange the affairs of his brother William, who had died without children, leaving no will. His brother was reported to have left a large estate; but as Paul was, soon after, in a state of penury16, it is probable that this was a mistake. He now devoted himself to agriculture, but his planting operations do not seem to have prospered17.
The American Revolution soon broke out, and considering himself a settled resident of the country, he determined18 to take her part in the bloody19 struggle which was about to follow. Impelled20 by a noble enthusiasm for the cause of liberty, a spirit of adventure, and a chivalrous21 thirst for glory, he offered his services to Congress, which were accepted, and he was commissioned as a lieutenant22 in the navy, in December, 1775. At this time, he bore the name of Jones, which he had perhaps assumed to conceal23 his conduct from his family, who might be pained to know that one of their name had taken part against England.
Jones was appointed first lieutenant of the Alfred, a flag-ship, and when the commander-in-chief came on board, he hoisted24 the American flag, with his own hands, being the first time it was ever displayed. At that time, the flag is said to have borne a device, representing a pine tree, with a rattlesnake coiled at the root, as if about to strike. The standard of the stars and stripes was not adopted till nearly two years later.
[Pg 206]At this period, our hero was in the twenty-ninth year of his age. His figure was light, graceful25 and active, yet his health was good, his constitution vigorous, and he was capable of great endurance. There was in his countenance26 an expression of mingled27 sternness and melancholy28, and his bearing was decidedly officer-like.
The first American squadron fitted out during the revolution, sailed in 1776. Jones was on board the Alfred in this expedition, but subsequently received the command of the sloop29 of war Providence30. In this he cruised along the coast, meeting with a variety of adventures, in which he displayed admirable skill and coolness of conduct. On one occasion, he was chased by the British frigate31 Milford, off the Isle32 of Sable33. Finding his vessel the faster of the two, he hovered34 near the frigate, yet beyond the reach of her shot. She, however, continued to pour forth35 her broadsides. This excited the contempt of Jones, and, with a humor peculiar36 to himself, he ordered the blustering37 battery of the frigate to be answered by a single shot from the musket38 of a marine39.
Jones pursued his career with great industry and success. He seemed to glide40 over the seas like a hawk41, passing rapidly from point to point, and pouncing42 upon such prey43 as he could master. Some of his feats44 resemble the prodigies45 of the days of chivalry46. He seemed to court adventure and to sport with danger, yet a cool discretion47 presided over his conduct. In the year 1776, he captured no less than sixteen prizes in the space of six weeks.
Notwithstanding these signal services, Jones was[Pg 207] superseded48 in the command of the Alfred, probably through the mean jealousy49 of Commodore Hopkins. There is, perhaps, no higher proof of elevation50 of character than is furnished by a calm and dignified51 endurance of injustice52 and ingratitude53. This evidence was afforded by Jones, who, while he remonstrated54 against the injury that was done him, steadily55 adhered to the cause he had espoused56, and exerted his abilities to the utmost to bear it forward with success. His letters of this period are full of enlightened views on the subject of naval57 affairs, and of hearty58 zeal59 in the cause of liberty. They show that his mind was far above mere60 personal considerations, and that even with statesman-like sagacity he looked forward to the establishment of a naval power in the United States, suited to the exigencies61 of the country.
The time for a recognition of his services speedily arrived. In 1777, he received orders from Congress to proceed in the French merchant ship Amphitrite, with officers and seamen62, to take command of a heavy ship, to be provided for him by the American commissioners63, Franklin, Dean and Lee, on his arrival in Europe. These he met at Paris, and arrangements were made by which he received the command of the Ranger64, in which he sailed from Brest, on the 10th of April, 1778.
An insight into the views of Jones, at this period, as well as his general character, may be gathered from the following extract from one of his letters:—"I have in contemplation several enterprises of some importance. When an enemy thinks a design against him improbable, he can always be surprised and[Pg 208] attacked with advantage. It is true, I must run great risk, but no gallant65 action was ever performed without danger. Therefore, though I cannot ensure success, I will endeavor to deserve it."
In fulfilment of these views, he set sail, and in four days after, captured and burnt a brigantine loaded with flaxseed, near Cape66 Clear. On the 17th, he took a ship bound for Dublin, which he manned and ordered to Brest. On the 19th, he took and sunk a schooner67; on the 20th, a sloop; and soon after, made a daring, but unsuccessful attempt to capture, by surprise, the English sloop of war Drake, of twenty guns, lying in the loch of Belfast.
On the 22d, he determined to attack Whitehaven, with which he was of course well acquainted. The number of ships lying here amounted to two hundred and fifty, and were protected by two batteries, mounting thirty pieces of artillery68. The attack was made in the dead of night, and while the unsuspecting inhabitants lay wrapped in repose69. Roused to this daring enterprise by the fires, massacres70, and ravages71 inflicted by the British forces upon the unprotected inhabitants of the American coast, and determined to check them by one signal and fearful act of retaliation72, Jones pursued his measures with a stern and daring hand.
He proceeded, in the first place, to secure the forts, which were scaled, the soldiers made prisoners, and the guns spiked73. He now despatched the greater portion of his men to set fire to the shipping74, while he proceeded with a single follower75 to another fort, the guns of which he spiked. On returning to the[Pg 209] ships, he found, to his mortification76, that his orders had not been obeyed, from a reluctance77, on the part of the seamen, to perform the task assigned them. One ship only was destroyed, which was set on fire by Jones himself.
Greatly disappointed at the partial failure of his scheme, Jones proceeded to the Scottish shore, for the purpose of carrying off the person of the Earl of Selkirk, whose gardener his father had been. The earl, however, was absent, and this part of the design failed. His men, however, proceeded to the earl's residence, and carried off his plate. Lady Selkirk was present, but she was treated with respect. Jones took no part in this enterprise, and only consented to it upon the urgent demands of his crew.
By this time, the people on both sides of the Irish channel were thoroughly78 roused by the daring proceedings79 of the Ranger. On the morning of the 24th April, Jones was hovering80 near Belfast, and the Drake worked out of the bay, to meet him. She had on board a large number of volunteers, making her crew amount to one hundred and sixty men. Alarm smokes were now seen rising on both sides of the channel, and several vessels81 loaded with people, curious to witness the coming engagement, were upon the water. As evening was approaching, however, they prudently82 put back.
Soon after, the two vessels met, and Jones poured in his first broadside. This was returned with energy, and a fearful conflict ensued. Running broadside and broadside, the most deadly fire was kept up. At last, after the struggle had been sustained at close[Pg 210] quarters for more than an hour, the captain of the Drake was shot through the head, and his crew called for quarter. The loss of the Drake, in killed and wounded, was forty-two, while the Ranger had one seaman83 killed and seven wounded.
This victory was the more remarkable84 as the Drake carried twenty guns, and the Ranger but eighteen, and moreover belonged to a regular navy; while the Ranger was fitted up with little experience and under few advantages. Jones now set sail with his prize, and both vessels arrived safely at Brest, on the 8th May. Immediately after, Jones despatched a very romantic epistle to Lady Selkirk, apologizing for the violence that had been committed at the estate of the earl, and explaining the motives85 of his conduct. He promised to return the plate, which he afterwards accomplished86 with infinite difficulty.
It eventually reached England, though some years after, in the same condition in which it had been taken; even the tea leaves in the tea-pot remaining as they were found. An acknowledgment of its receipt, by the earl, was sent to Jones, with a recognition of the courteous87 behavior of the Ranger's crew when they landed on Saint Mary's Isle.
Being now at Brest with two hundred prisoners of war, Jones became involved in a variety of troubles, for want of means to support them, pay his crew and refit his ship. After many delays and vexations, he sailed from the road of Saint Croix, August 14, 1779, with a squadron of seven sail, designing to annoy the coasts of England and Scotland. The principal occurrence of this cruise was the capture of the British[Pg 211] ship of war Serapis, after a bloody and desperate engagement, off Flamborough Head, September 23, 1779. The Serapis was a vessel much superior in force to Jones' vessel, the Bon Homme Richard, which sunk not long after the termination of the engagement.
The sensation produced by this battle was unexampled, and raised the fame of Jones to its height. In a letter to him, Franklin says, "For some days after the arrival of your express, scarce anything was talked of at Paris and Versailles but your cool conduct and persevering88 bravery during that terrible conflict. You may believe that the impression on my mind was not less than on that of the others. But I do not choose to say, in a letter to yourself, all I think on such an occasion."
His reception at Paris, whither he went on the invitation of Franklin, was of the most flattering kind. He was everywhere caressed89; the king presented him with a gold sword, and requested permission of Congress to invest him with the military order of merit—an honor never conferred on any one before, who had not borne arms under the commission of France.
In 1781, Jones sailed for the United States, and arrived in Philadelphia, February 18, of that year, after a variety of escapes and encounters, where he underwent a sort of examination before the board of admiralty, which resulted greatly to his honor. The board gave it as their opinion, "that the conduct of Paul Jones merits particular attention, and some distinguished mark of approbation90 from Congress."[Pg 212] That body accordingly passed a resolution highly complimentary91 to his "zeal, prudence92, and intrepidity93." General Washington wrote him a letter of congratulation, and he was afterwards voted a gold medal by Congress.
From Philadelphia, he went to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to superintend the building of a ship of war, and, while there, drew up some admirable observations on the subject of the American navy. By permission of Congress, he subsequently went on board the French fleet, where he remained until the peace, which put a period to his naval career in the service of the United States. He then went to Paris as agent for prize money, and while there, joined in a plan to establish a fur-trade between the north-west coast of America and China, in conjunction with a kindred spirit, the celebrated94 John Ledyard.
In Paris he continued to be treated with the greatest distinction. He afterwards was invited into the Russian service, with the rank of rear-admiral, where he was disappointed in not receiving the command of the fleet acting95 against the Turks in the Black Sea. He condemned96 the conduct of the prince of Nassau, the admiral; became restless and impatient; was intrigued97 against at court, and calumniated98 by his enemies; and had permission from the empress Catherine to retire from the service with a pension, which, however, was never paid. He returned to Paris, where he gradually sunk into poverty, neglect and ill health, and finally died of dropsy, July 18, 1792.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
promontory
|
|
| n.海角；岬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
jutting
|
|
| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
briny
|
|
| adj.盐水的；很咸的；n.海洋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
predilection
|
|
| n.偏好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
apprentice
|
|
| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
industrious
|
|
| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
attained
|
|
| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
scruple
|
|
| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
inflicted
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
mutinous
|
|
| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
penury
|
|
| n.贫穷，拮据 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
prospered
|
|
| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
impelled
|
|
| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
chivalrous
|
|
| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
sloop
|
|
| n.单桅帆船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
frigate
|
|
| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
isle
|
|
| n.小岛，岛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sable
|
|
| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
hovered
|
|
| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
blustering
|
|
| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
musket
|
|
| n.滑膛枪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
marine
|
|
| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
glide
|
|
| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
hawk
|
|
| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
pouncing
|
|
| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
feats
|
|
| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
prodigies
|
|
| n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
chivalry
|
|
| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
discretion
|
|
| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
superseded
|
|
| [医]被代替的，废弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
elevation
|
|
| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
injustice
|
|
| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
ingratitude
|
|
| n.忘恩负义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
remonstrated
|
|
| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
espoused
|
|
| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
naval
|
|
| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
exigencies
|
|
| n.急切需要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
seamen
|
|
| n.海员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
commissioners
|
|
| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
ranger
|
|
| n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
cape
|
|
| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
schooner
|
|
| n.纵帆船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
artillery
|
|
| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
massacres
|
|
| 大屠杀( massacre的名词复数 )； 惨败 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
ravages
|
|
| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
retaliation
|
|
| n.报复，反击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
spiked
|
|
| adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
shipping
|
|
| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
follower
|
|
| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
mortification
|
|
| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
reluctance
|
|
| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
hovering
|
|
| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
vessels
|
|
| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
prudently
|
|
| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
seaman
|
|
| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
courteous
|
|
| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
persevering
|
|
| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
caressed
|
|
| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
approbation
|
|
| n.称赞；认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
complimentary
|
|
| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
intrepidity
|
|
| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
intrigued
|
|
| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
calumniated
|
|
| v.诽谤，中伤( calumniate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |