[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 29 May 1824 - Sketches of Paul JONES (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 29 May 1824   (p. 4, col. 3-4)

 

EXTRACTS 

FROM "SKETCHES OF PAUL JONES." 

 

[continued] 

 

The vessel had no sooner anchored, than she was observed to dispatch an armed boat. The crew on landing seemed to have no particular
object in view; and after remaining some time, strolling up and down the country, took to their boat and returned on board. Before,
however, the people had recovered from their first alarm, the boat was again observed to push off, and in a few minutes a strong
body of armed men landed on the beach without interruption; not as before did they stroll about, but, forming in regular order,
marched directly to the castle, which they immediately surrounded, and then, for the first time, a suspicion of the real character
of such unexpected visitors was excited. Lady Selkirk, who, with her children, were the only members of the family then resident in
the castle, had just finished breakfast, when she received a summons to appear before the officer commanding the detachment; she
obeyed with considerable fear, which was not diminished upon nearer view of the visitors, whose ferocious looks, and ragged dress,
too plainly showed their hostile intentions; and, as it was evident that plunder was their object, the worst might be expected, in
case of resistance. They were armed with every variety of weapon; muskets, pistols, swords; and one savage looking fellow bore an
American tomahawk over his shoulder. Two officers had the charge of the party; one of them coarse and rude in language and
behaviour; the other, on the contrary, was not only courteous and respectful-but even apologised to Lady Selkirk, regretting the
unpleasant duty in which it was his unfortunate lot to appear as a principal. Their first inquiry was for Lord Selkirk: on being
assured that he was not in the country, some disappointment was manifested. After a short pause, the latter officer said he must
then request her Ladyship to produce all her plate. She replied, that the quantity in the castle was very small, but what there was
should be immediately given up; and accordingly the whole was laid before them, even the silver tea-pot used at breakfast which had
not been washed out. The officer on receiving it directed his men to pack up every article, again apologising for his conduct on an
occasion which he called a dirty business, and then taking leave, at the head of his men returned to the vessel, leaving the family
not a little rejoiced at their escape. Still, however, as the ship did not get under weigh, fears were entertained of a second
visit, and Lady Selkirk lost no time in sending off her children, and removing whatever property was likely to become a source of
temptation, to a place of security. Her fears were fortunately groundless, and in a few hours, she had the satisfaction of seeing
the privateer under weigh without offering further molestation. 

 

"Some days afterwards she received a letter from Paul JONES himself, written in a romantic, almost poetical style. He entreated her
pardon for the late affront, which he assured her was far from being planned or sanctioned by him, that he had done every thing in
his power to prevent its taking place; but his officers and crew insisted on the attempt, hoping to secure the person of Lord
Selkirk, for whose ransom a considerable sum might be expected. This he declared was the object of their first visit, and having
failed in it, they returned on board, when, after some murmuring, they insisted on again landing and plundering the house. To this
he was obliged to consent, though with great reluctance, adding, as a proof of his innocence, that he would endeavour to purchase
the plunder they had so disgracefully brought off from the crew, and transmit (if not the whole) whatever he could procure, to her
Ladyship. Not hearing again for several years, all hope, of course, was given up of the fulfilment of his promise, when, to her
great surprise, in the spring of 1783, the whole was returned, carriage paid, precisely in the same state in which it had been
carried away, to all appearance never having been unpacked, the very tea leaves remaining in the tea-pot as they were left after the
breakfast on the day of capture. The report of his landing rapidly spread through the country, attended with every variety of
exaggeration by the time it reached London. Lord Selkirk received it with the additional particulars, that his family were all made
prisoners and his castle burnt to the ground. He immediately hurried to the north, and it was not till he had gone half way that he
learned the real truth. On clearing the land, JONES stood to the westward, and towards evening, making the Irish coast, entered
Belfast Loch, capturing or burning as he proceeded several fishing boats. He was soon observed by Capt. BURDON, of the Drake sloop
of war, of 14 guns and 100 men; conceiving the privateer to be a merchantman, a boat was dispatched for the purpose of impressing
her crew. On coming alongside, the man of war's men immediately boarded, and were as immediately secured. JONES however did not
think it prudent to persevere in his progress up the bay, in the presence of an armed vessel in the King's service, and accordingly
put about. Capt. BURDON's suspicions were immediately excited by this measure and the evident detention of the boat, and not a
moment was lost in giving chace and clearing for action. On coming up with the enemy, Capt. BURDON opened a spirited fire, but owing
to the darkness of the night he was unable to continue it with effect, and the vessels separated. But as soon as it was light the
engagement was gallantly renewed, and continued for upwards of an hour, when Capt. BURDON and his first Lieutenant being killed,
twenty of his crew disabled, a topmast shot away, and the ship dreadfully cut up, the Drake was compelled to surrender. During the
action the prisoners on board the privateer were kept in irons, but on its ceasing they were all sent on shore in the detained
fishing boats. By this time, the coast on both sides of the Channel being generally alarmed, Paul JONES felt it unsafe to remain in
that quarter, and therefore hastened with his prize towards Brest, which port he succeeded in making without interruption." 

 

 

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